ASHEBORO N.C. – This year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, a 78-foot red spruce affectionately called “Ruby,” is set to be harvested from the Pisgah National Forest tomorrow.
The ceremony will be live streamed on the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree’s Facebook page on Nov 2nd 2022, at 11 a.m., (facebook.com/uscapitolchristmastree). Musical performances by Woody Platt and Shannon Whitworth, and the Cherokee Legend of the Evergreen Trees told by this year’s Youth Tree Lighter, Coche Tiger, a citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are all expected during the event.
According to a press release, the tree will be harvested by Rodney Smith, a 30-year employee of the Uwharrie National Forest, using a STIHL chainsaw. With support from Dover Crane and Barlett Tree Experts, the Red Spruce will be carefully maneuvered onto a flatbed trailer provided by Hale Trailer. The tree will be transported by a specially decaled Kenworth T680 driven by Ed Kingdon, Jr and Deb Kingdon of North Carolina-based carrier Hardy Brothers Trucking.
After the harvest, the Capital Christmas Tree will hit the road for a 14-day long tour from the Pisgah National Forest to Washington, D. C. Including a stop at the NC Zoo on Nov 10th, 2022, from 9am to 11am. The tour concludes with the tree arriving to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.
U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour
November 10 @ 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
VIEW EVENT DETAILS
The red spruce that will adorn the West Lawn represents an iconic tree species for southern Appalachia said the NC Forestry Service in a press release last week.
As part of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree program, the U.S. Forest Service is partnering with the National Forest Foundation to raise funds for a new state-of-the-art nursery that will grow red spruce seedlings to be used in reforestation efforts. The Forest Service has contributed $50,000 and the National Forest Foundation is raising $200,000 more. Someday that greenhouse will contain the seedlings of Ruby. A team of foresters collected cones from Ruby, which contain seeds that will be grown into seedlings that will contribute to the next generation of red spruce trees growing across the southern Appalachian region.
For a complete list of times and stops, visit www.uscapitolchristmastree.com.