Mad River, CA…After almost a year of planning, the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, an 84-foot white fir nicknamed “Sugar Bear,” will be harvested from the Six Rivers National Forest in a virtual ceremony on  Oct. 24, 2021 at 10 AM.

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-announced local youth tree lighter.

The public is invited to view this significant milestone during a livestream of the ceremony available on the Six Rivers National Forest Facebook page, starting at 10 AM.

The People’s Tree will be harvested using a two-person crosscut saw, which is more eco-friendly and fire safe, as well as celebrates decades of U.S. Forest Service crosscutting tradition. It will be supported by cranes provided Mountain F Enterprises, and then transported by West Coast trucking carrier System Transport using a specially-decaled Kenworth T68O Next Generation  truck.

Once wrapped and secured, the People’s Tree will begin its journey from Northern California to Washington, D.C., Oct. 29. On its almost 3,500 mile journey, the tree will visit more than 20 communities* throughout California and across the United States for a series of outdoor festivities hosted by local organizations.

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.

*Subject to change. Monitor website at www.uscapitolchristmastree.com for the latest updates. Follow along online at @uscapitolchristmastree on Facebook and Instagram, and @USCapitolTree on Twitter.

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree initiative is a 5o-year tradition in which one of our 154 national forests provides a tree for the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for the holiday season. The project is made possible with support from partners including nonprofit Choose Outdoors along with cash and in-kind contributions from companies large and small as well as volunteers locally and across the nation. For a list of 2021 sponsors and to join in the People’s Tree celebration visit uscapitolchristmastree.com and @uscapitolchristmastree on Facebook and Instagram and @USCapitolTree on Twitter.

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