Tree Lighting, Holiday Market and Water Skiing Santa ring in the holiday spirit

National Harbor, MD – National Harbor is the place to celebrate the holidays this year with a
host of festivities including a holiday tree lighting, outdoor market and even a water skiing Santa
Claus. The new development along the Potomac River will kick off the holiday season on
Waterfront Plaza on November 28 from 5p.m.-7p.m. by lighting up the night sky with fireworks
and a 60ft holiday tree festooned with 20,000 lights. With hot chocolate and roasted nuts to
keep visitors warm, the holiday tree lighting will include story-telling and an ornament-making
workshop from the National Children’s Museum as well as a performance of holiday music from
the Double Brass Quintet. The evening’s finale will be a spectacular light show featuring the
lighting of the National Harbor Holiday Tree and fireworks. The light show will continue each
night through the holiday season, beginning on the half hour after sunset and continuing every
half hour until 10p.m.

Bringing holiday spirit to the region all season long, the National Harbor Outdoor Holiday
Market will begin November 29 and continue every Saturday 12p.m. to 8p.m. and Sunday
12p.m. to 5p.m. through December 21. Located on the banks of the Potomac River alongside
one of the region’s favorite statues, “The Awakening,” regional vendors will offer holiday goods
and specialty foods including handmade crafts, handmade scarves and mittens, hot chocolate,
roasted chestnuts and hot apple cider.

And on Christmas Eve, December 24, at 1p.m. Santa himself will visit National Harbor, though
without his sleigh. Waterskiing Santa will make his debut at National Harbor gliding across the
Potomac River, making a special visit with guests and visitors before his big night.

As a special treat this holiday season, National Harbor is also currently hosting Cirque du
Soleil’s latest show, Kooza. A return to the origins of Cirque, Kooza combines the two circus
traditions of acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. Kooza’s exotic and thrilling acts are
filled with laughter, heartfelt emotion and toe-tapping music inspired by the sounds of western
pop culture and traditional Indian music. The show runs through Dec. 14; to purchase tickets,
visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.

To learn more about the festivities taking place this holiday season at National Harbor, visit
www.NationalHarbor.com.

Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
November 28, 2008
5p.m. – 7p.m.
Waterfront Plaza; National Harbor

Holiday Tree Light Show
Beginning November 28, 2008 and continuing every night throughout the holiday season
Beginning the half hour after sunset and continuing every half hour until 10p.m.
Waterfront Plaza; National Harbor

Outdoor Holiday Market
Saturdays and Sundays, November 29-December 21, 2008
Saturdays 12p.m. – 8p.m.
Sundays 12p.m. – 5p.m.
Waterfront Plaza; National Harbor

Waterskiing Santa Claus
December 24, 2008
1p.m.
National Harbor Waterfront

For media inquiries, please contact Chris Vassil at 202-340-8099.
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