The leader of the National Christmas Tree Association has included the White House Tree, the Rockefeller Center Tree and the Christmas at the Capitol Display in Pierre on his list of Top 10 Best Public Christmas Tree Displays in the United States.
When describing the display in Pierre, executive director Tim O’Connor said a forest of nearly 100 Christmas trees transforms the South Dakota State Capitol every holiday season. He said they’re all real, all beautiful and all unique.
This year’s featured tree is a 25.5-foot Colorado Blue Spruce decorated by Special Olympics of South Dakota. It was donated by Kelsey and Aaron Trimble of Rapid City. After being trimmed, the tree stands 22 feet tall in the rotunda.
The Christmas at the Capitol Display in Pierre is open from 8am-10pm daily through Dec. 25. More information is available at christmasatthecapitol.sd.gov or on the display’s Facebook page.
The article can be found at: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgxvzLrPGrZXPTSxkNzzDrlDMcHJB.
Other public displays on the Top 10 List:
White House Christmas Tree, Washington, D.C.
Just like the president, a tree makes it to the White House by winning votes. This year’s honor goes to a 19.5-foot Fraser fir from Newland, North Carolina. The grower was chosen as the National Christmas Tree Association’s grand champion, and White House staff picked the tree to be displayed in the Blue Room. “It’s like winning the Super Bowl,” O’Connor says. The public can get limited tour tickets through their congressional representative. whitehouse.gov1.info/visit/white-house-christmas-tour.html
Rockefeller Center, New York City
O’Connor says this famous Manhattan tree lives up to the hype. “It’s just a work of art. It’s as close to perfection as you can probably get. It literally stops traffic.” This year’s tree, a 72-foot, 12-ton Norway spruce, grew about 75 miles away in Wallkill, New York. It’s draped with about 50,000 LED lights, and topped with a 900-pound star made from millions of Swarovski crystals. rockefellercenter.com
Mayor’s Christmas Tree, Kansas City, Missouri
One of the nation’s largest Christmas trees shines above Kansas City every holiday season. A 100-foot Oregon Douglas fir lords over the city’s Crown Center, which welcomes Christmas with an ice-skating rink, a gingerbread village and holiday train. At the end of each season, wood from the tree is made into ornaments. Proceeds from sales benefit a holiday charity fund for needy city residents. crowncenter.com
Citadel Outlets, Commerce, California
Perhaps it’s no surprise that the home to what has been called the world’s largest live-cut Christmas tree is a Southern California outlet mall. The white fir from California’s Shasta-Trinity National Forest stands 110 feet, and is easily visible from freeways. It’s decorated with 18,000 LED lights and 10,000 ornaments. “The thing is huge. It’s gargantuan. I can’t even imagine how difficult it is to put it up,” O’Connor says. citadeloutlets.com
Perkasie Borough, Pennsylvania
A community Christmas tree lighting might seem as traditional as caroling, but the practice didn’t start until 1909, according to the folks in Perkasie Borough. The Bucks County town claims to host the country’s oldest community tree lighting ceremony, and the event and decorated tree still attract crowds every year. “It’s very cool. It’s something for them to hang their hat on,” O’Connor says. perkasieborough.org
Toledo Zoo, Ohio
In recent years, botanical gardens and zoos have launched flashy holiday exhibitions, but few equal the show in Toledo, where the zoo grounds are festooned with more than 1 million lights, including 35,000 alone on an 85-foot spruce. Last year, the show attracted 175,000 visitors. “Kids would love it, and it’s a great event for families,” O’Connor says. toledozoo.org/lights
Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston
A 60-foot Norwegian spruce tree, trucked in from Red Hook, New York, not only adds to Boston’s dazzling skyline, but it also entertains visitors to the city’s historic market. Light shows sync the tree to six different traditional and retro holiday tunes, including “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” performed by the Jackson 5. faneuilhallmarketplace.com
Nugget Casino, Sparks, Nevada
For a sure return on Christmas cheer, find your way to this Reno-area casino for its colossal grand fir from southern Oregon. The tree reaches 70 feet tall and anchors the town’s Victorian Square. “It makes them more than just a gambling location, offering options that attract all family members,” O’Connor says. nuggetcasinoresort.com
Texas pecan tree, Highland Park, Texas
Although O’Connor prefers a traditional evergreen, he admires how a Dallas-area city has built a tradition around decorating a mammoth pecan tree which stands 75 feet tall, and is about 75 feet wide and at least 150 years old. The tree, which takes four men a week to decorate, is the centerpiece for an annual community holiday celebration. hptx.org
