Capitol Christmas Tree to Begin Journey East on Sunday
WILLOW CREEK, Calif. – Yes, it’s not even Halloween yet, but the 2021 U.S. Capitol Christmas tree will soon be in transit from its current location in the Six Rivers National Forest in California.
This year’s tree, an 84-foot white fir nicknamed “Sugar Bear,” will be harvested from the national forest in a virtual ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 24 at 10 a.m.
The harvest ceremony will include a blessing by the Lassic Band of Wylacki-Wintoon Family Group Inc., as well as brief remarks by USDA Forest Service leadership, local elected officials, project partners, and the yet-to-be-announced local youth tree lighter.
Each year, a different forest is selected to provide the tree that appears on the west lawn of the Capitol for the holiday season.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, which manages the annual project, the tree will be harvested using a two-person crosscut saw, which is considered both more eco-friendly and fire safe than a power saw.
During the process, the tree will be supported by cranes provided by Mountain F. Enterprises, Inc., of Placerville, Calif., and then transported by West Coast trucking carrier System Transport using an ultra-aerodynamic Kenworth T680 next generation truck.
Once wrapped and secured, a process that is expected to take about five days, the tree will leave Northern California bound for Washington on Oct. 29, and visit more than 20 communities as it heads east.
The entire journey will be tracked in real time online at capitoltreetracker.com.
Events surrounding the tree’s arrival in various communities are free and open to the public.
Scheduled stops include:
Friday, Oct. 29
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Del Norte Visitor Center, 1001 Front Street, Crescent City, California.
4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Eureka Waterfront, Madaket Square Boardwalk, D Street, Eureka, California.
Saturday, Oct. 30
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Willow Creek Mainstreet, Calif. Hwy-299, Willow Creek, California.
4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Fortuna River Lodge, 1800 Riverwalk Drive, Fortuna, California.
Sunday, Oct. 31
12:00 – 3:00 p.m. Pear Tree Shopping Center, 504 East Perkins Street, Ukiah, California.
Monday, Nov. 1
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Golden Gate National Recreation Area, 435 Murray Circle, Sausalito, California.
3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Vallejo Waterfront Ferry Stop, 289 Mare Island Way, Vallejo, California.
Tuesday, Nov. 2
3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Dixon May Fair, 655 South 1st Street, Dixon, California.
Wednesday, Nov. 3
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. California State Capitol, 1010 L Street, Sacramento, California.
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Mother Lode Fairgrounds, 220 Southgate Road, Sonora, California.
Thursday, Nov. 4
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Downtown Mariposa, Hwy 140 between 9th and 10th Street, Mariposa, California.
Saturday, Nov. 6
8:30 – 10:30 a.m. Rose Bowl Stadium, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena, California.
3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Redlands West Pearl Avenue, between Eureka and Orange Streets, Redlands, California.
Monday, Nov. 8
3:30 p.m. Holbrook Parade, Holbrook, Arizona.
Tuesday, Nov. 9
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Petrified Forest National Park, 1 Park Road, Phoenix, Arizona.
Thursday, Nov. 11
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. New Mexico Veterans Memorial, 1100 Louisiana Blvd SE #5009, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Saturday, Nov. 13
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Downtown Fayetteville, Northwest Avenue & West Dickson Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas.
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Bass Pro Shops National Headquarters, 1935 S Campbell Ave., Springfield, Missouri.
Tuesday, Nov. 16:
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Williamsport Town Hall, 2 N Conococheague Street, Williamsport, Maryland.
Friday, Nov. 19
Delivery to West Lawn, U.S. Capitol building.
The tree will be displayed on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., with a tree-lighting ceremony hosted by the Architect of the Capitol and Speaker of the House in early December.
