Capitol Christmas Tree Stopping in Yakima

An Engelmann spruce tree from the Colville National Forest will make a brief stop in Yakima Thursday, Nov. 7 on its way to grace the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. to serve as the official 2013 Capitol Christmas Tree.

The convoy will stop on 3rd Street in Yakima in front of the Capitol Theatre and Millennium Plaza from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Community members are invited to come see the tree and to sign banners that will accompany the tree as it makes its way across the country.

Representatives from the Colville National Forest will also be on hand to answer questions about how the tree was selected from several potential Capitol Christmas tree candidates, how it is being transported to across the country and what it will look like once it is fully decorated on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol.

The tradition of a Capitol Christmas Tree began in 1964 and has continued ever since. The competition to provide “the People’s Tree” has become fierce over the years. This year marks the second time a tree from Washington State has served as the official Capitol Christmas Tree.

More information about the tree and its journey across America can be found on the official 2013 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree website at http://capitolchristmastree.com/.