U.S. Capitol Christmas tree to visit Newland

Nov. 3—NEWLAND — Each year, a different national forest provides a tree to light up the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol building for the holiday season. The National Forests in North Carolina, in partnership with nonprofit partner Choose Outdoors, will bring the 2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from the Pisgah Forest to Washington, D.C., including a special appearance in Newland on Tuesday, Nov. 8th, at the Avery Cooperative Extension.

The 78-foot-tall Red Spruce, Ruby, was harvested in the Pisgah National Forest on Nov. 2 and prepared for the nearly 1,000-mile expedition. The journey will include a series of outdoor community celebrations before being delivered to the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 18, where it will be decorated with handmade ornaments and tree skirts specially created by North Carolinians.

"The North Carolina Christmas Tree Association is proud to partner with the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree and 84 Lumber to provide 84 farm-grown Fraser fir Christmas trees for display in the of offices of the U.S. Capitol building and at Joint Base Andrews. Western NC produces 25% (25.2) of all Fraser fir Christmas trees grown in the United States. We are honored to have our Fraser Fir trees on display in our Nation's Capital," — said Jennifer Greene, executive director, North Carolina Christmas Tree Association.

What: A celebration event and banner signing event will take place to celebrate the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. The event is free and open to the public.

Several things will be on display:

1. The U.S. Capitol Christmas tree — Tree will be on display and there will be an opportunity to sign the banner that is on the truck hauling the tree.

2. 84 Fraser fir Christmas trees from Newland, purchased by presenting sponsor, 84 Lumber, will be on display in a separate truck. 24 of these Frasers will be on display in the U.S. Capitol Building, and the remaining trees will be donated to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

3. 58 Fraser fir Christmas trees will be loaded onto a North Carolina Department of Agriculture truck and transported to D.C. These trees will make up the Pathway of Peace, a walkway surrounding the National Christmas Tree featuring 58 trees representing the 56 states and territories, and schools managed by the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Education and the Department of Defense Education Activity. These trees are uniquely decorated with ornaments designed by students from each state, territory, and school system. Fraser fir trees are donated by Larry Smith, Mountain Top Fraser Fir, Newland.

WHO: North Carolina Christmas Tree Association, County of Avery, Avery County Cooperative Extension, Avery County High School JROTC's, Avery County High School Band, Avery County High School FFA, Avery County High School & Middle School Chorus, U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

WHERE: Avery County Cooperative Extension Service, 661 Vale Rd, Newland, NC 28657 WHEN: 9:30 -10:30 a.m.