It's too late to catch the president and world famous performers. But it's not too late to view the solar-powered turquoise National Christmas Tree and the other 56 trees representing states and territories. They're on display -- along with free entertainment and refreshments - nightly on the Ellipse, between the Mall and White House, through New Year's Day.

As has been tradition since 1923, the president threw the switch December 4, capping an early evening performance blending world famous and local performers for the opening of the Christmas Pageant of Peace this season. Weather cooperated for the most part -- temperatures fell some from a daytime high of about 60, but remained pleasant enough throughout the performance, which ended shortly after 6 p.m. No one seemed to mind the drizzle that turned into rain.

Traditionally, a military band starts the performance. This year the Coast Guard Band got the honor, featuring seasonal standards such as "White Christmas." But out of character for the usually solid military bands, this one hit a few sour notes, especially on the horns.

Next appeared the dancing "Snowdens," a cast of eight high schoolers dressed as fat snowmen from Debbe Manoly's Academy of Dance in Waldorf, MD. They wiggled and twirled for one number, unable to perform any complicated dance steps in their costumes, which didn't even allow peripheral vision. However, the visual effect of the seasonal snowmen was highly entertaining.

The band resumed with Christmas favorites including "Ding Dong Merrily on High," "I Saw Three Ships," and a version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." Unfortunately, the last song sounded so flat it seemed the band was playing it that way to be original.

The Coast Guard Band introduced President and Mrs. Clinton with the non-seasonal "Hail to the Chief." Then the Shenandoah Valley Children's Choir resumed the show with the rather sophisticated carol (for a group of children) "On This Day". The 63-member choir, ages 10-18, all wore matching red overcoats and black berets. The young and mainly female chorus did a commendable job with the tune.

Master of ceremonies, actor Gregory Peck, appeared and introduced the first of three vocal superstars, country legend Laurie Morgan, to sing what she deemed "three of my favorite" Christmas carols. She stared with a song never meant for Christmas but appropriated for the holiday because it sounds like someone wanting presents, Rodgers & Hammerstein's "My Favorite Things." It could have been labeled "My Favorite Strings" because the band's arrangement emphasized violins and related instruments. She went on with "Toyland," and "Let It Snow" -- sung in the pouring rain.

After "Let it Snow," the vocalist who made "Heatwave" famous, Martha Reeves, appeared minus the Vandellas. She sang none of her hits, only a few standard carols, including "Silver Bells", from the 1951 Bob Hope Christmas movie "The Lemon Drop Kid."

Finally, legendary tenor Placido Domingo appeared in an overcoat and scarf because of a cold. Nevertheless, he belted out two Christmas songs in Italian, followed by Irving Berlin's "White Christmas," arguably the most popular Christmas song written this century.

Then Bill Clinton flipped the switch and lit the darkness with the colored light of the season. Clinton is the 14th president to share the honor, which dates back to Calvin Coolidge in 1923. Franklin Roosevelt's record of 10 consecutive switch flips won't be broken until the Constitution is again amended. Ronald Reagan is in second place with eight lightings. Sometimes presidents sent vice presidents to fill in, the last being Spiro Agnew in 1971 and 1972.

The pageant with its refreshments and entertainment continues nightly from 6 to 8 p.m. through Dec. 26 (no performances Dec. 24 or 25). The displays remain up through Jan. 1. Attendees can also see a nativity scene and burning Yule log. But the National Park Service has bowed to animal rights activists and declined to present reindeer. Until last year, hooved stock from the National Zoo had added to the display. "We don't want to be part of a gratuitous display of animals," NPS spokesperson Earle Kittleman says.

The United States Congress also has a holiday tree on the Capitol grounds west lawn. An updated real video camera setup courtesy of Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota is taking shots of the tree throughout the season.  You can see pictures of the tree at:

http://www.senate.gov/~daschle/tree/treecam.html