The Capitol Christmas Tree — known as the People’s Tree — can be viewed at the Rose Bowl Saturday morning on its way to the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol for the Christmas season.
Due to COVID-19 precautions, the viewing will be a drive-thru event from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
Every year, the Forest Service selects one of its 154 national forests to provide a tree for the holiday season honor. The Six Rivers National Forest in northwestern California, in partnership with nonprofit partner Choose Outdoors, will bring the tree from California to Washington, D.C., for the 2021 Christmas season.
Under the theme “Six Rivers, Many Peoples, One Tree,” the 84-foot tall white fir — nicknamed Sugar Bear — was harvested at the Six Rivers National Forest on Oct. 24 and prepared for the 3,300-mile expedition.
The journey will include a series of 25 outdoor community celebrations before being delivered to the Capitol on Nov. 19. The tree will then be decorated with handmade ornaments and tree skirts specially created by Californians and lit in early December.
The Capitol Christmas Tree viewing is open to the public and free to all while following local health guidelines. Visitors to the tree at the Rose Bowl on Saturday will also see Smokey Bear, the Forest Service announced.
News, events and tour information are available at uscapitolchristmastree.com.
