Registration for the lottery opens at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time Wednesday and closes at 11:59 p.m. Friday. Applicants can register at http://www.thenationaltree.org. Nearly 10,000 free tickets will be distributed, including 2,800 seats and 7,000 standing-room spaces available.

Those without access to a computer can call during the same time period, 877-444-6777, or 877-633-6777 for those who are hearing impaired, the Park Service said. Winners will be notified by mail or e-mail. Tickets will be mailed by Nov. 15. All attendees, including children, must have tickets.

“Folks are tired of political correctness that says you cant use the name Christmas because it might be offensive to someone, and it seemed like in all their efforts to be inclusive, all they do is exclude the Christian holiday Christmas,”  Clays Mill Road Baptist Church, Pastor Jeff Fugate said.