National Christmas Tree Coming From North Carolina
I was a little bummed out when I found out that the Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center in New York City was coming from upstate New York this year. I mean, when I think big, beautiful Christmas trees, I think Western North Carolina. Well, The Big Apple’s loss is Washington DC’s gain. Since 1970, a different national forest has provided the Christmas tree that adorns our nation’s capital. For the third time, The National Forest in North Carolina have this honor. Yesterday, a 78-foot-tall Red Spruce, nicknamed “Ruby,” was harvested in The Pisgah National Forest. And will now be making its way to DC.
North Carolina previously provided Fraser firs for the nation’s tree in 1974 and 1998. If you want to see the tree before it’s decorated and unveiled after Thanksgiving, it will actually be “on tour.” “Ruby” will travel by truck throughout the Tar Heel State and Virginia. From Saturday through November 18th, the tree will make more than a dozen stops. The US Forest Service invites you to check her out, sign the banners on the side of the truck, learn more about their national forests, shop for U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree merchandise, and more! Here’s the itenerary:
Saturday, Nov. 5
3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Western North Carolina Agricultural Center (9237, 761 Boylston Hwy, Fletcher, NC 28732)
Sunday, Nov. 6
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Cherokee County Courthouse (75 Peachtree St, Murphy, NC 28906)
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Oconaluftee Island Park Event Site (181 Tsali Blvd, Cherokee, NC 28719)
Monday, Nov. 7
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Pisgah Forest Ranger Station & Visitor Center (1600 Pisgah Hwy, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768)
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Marion Main Street (Between Court Street and Fort Street, Marion, NC 28752)
Tuesday, Nov. 8
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Avery County Courthouse (200 Montezuma St, Newland, NC 28657)
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Watauga High School (300 Go Pioneers Dr, Boone, NC 28607)
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Downtown Newton (33 East A Street, Newton, NC 28658)
Wednesday, Nov. 9
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Veteran’s Memorial Park (691 W. Lebanon St. Mount Airy, NC 27030)
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Troy Town Hall (315 N Main St, Troy, NC 27371)
Thursday, Nov. 10
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. North Carolina Zoo (4401 Zoo Pkwy, Asheboro, NC 27205)
Friday, Nov. 11
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. North Carolina Veteran’s Home (2150 Hull Rd, Kinston, NC 28504)
Saturday, Nov. 12
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Union Point Park (210 E Front St, New Bern, NC 28560)
Sunday, Nov. 13
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Fort Raleigh National Historic Site (1500 Fort Raleigh Road, Manteo, NC 27954)
Monday, Nov. 14
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Suffolk Visitors Center (524 North Main St, Suffolk, VA 23434)
Wednesday, Nov. 16
84 Lumber, North Chesterfield, VA (Details to be announced)
Thursday, Nov. 17
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Joint Base Andrews (Base only)
Friday, Nov. 18
Delivery to West Lawn, U.S. Capitol Building
