The “People’s Tree” will make cross-country journey from New Mexico to Washington D.C.
Taos, NM – Oct. 2, 2019 – Every year a different national forest is selected to provide a tree to appear on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol building for the holiday season. This year, Carson National Forest, in partnership with the New Mexico Tourism Department and nonprofit organization Choose Outdoors, will bring this special gift from New Mexico to Washington, D.C. by way of a cross-country tour involving more than 25 communities along the way.
The series of festivities will be hosted by local communities at parks and plazas, schools, memorials and monuments, stadiums, main streets and even a parade. Well-wishers will have a chance to sign banners on the sides of the truck, learn more about the Carson National Forest and the great state of New Mexico, purchase U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree merchandise and more. Beginning Nov.11, the tree’s journey can be tracked in real time online at capitoltreetracker.com hosted in partnership with sponsor Spireon, Inc. Tour stops include:
Monday, Nov. 11
• 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Carson National Forest Eagle Rock Lake (State Route 38, Questa, NM) • 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Eagle Nest Town Hall (151 North Willow Creek Drive, Eagle Nest, NM) • 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Veteran’s Memorial (34 Country Club Road, Angel Fire, NM) • 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Taos City Hall (120 Civic Plaza Dr., Taos, NM)
Tuesday, Nov. 12
• 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Taos Pueblo (120 Veterans Highway, Taos, NM) • 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Española Valley Chamber of Commerce (101 Calle de las Españolas #F, Española, NM) • 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Chama Town Hall (2994 4th Street, Chama, NM) • 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Jicarilla Apache Supermarket Parking Lot (13603 US-64, Dulce, NM)
Wednesday, Nov. 13
• 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Shiprock High School (US-64, Shiprock, NM) • 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Bloomfield Elementary School (200 W Sycamore Ave, Bloomfield, NM) • 1:30 – 2:15 p.m. St. Francis Assisi Park (State Highway 126, Cuba, NM) • 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Santa Fe Plaza (105 West Palace Avenue, Santa Fe, NM)
Thursday, Nov. 14
• 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Forest Service Albuquerque Service Center (4000 Masthead St. NE, Albuquerque, NM) • 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Civic Plaza (401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM) • 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Gila National Forest, Black Range Ranger District (1804 North Date St., Truth or Consequences, NM)
Friday, Nov. 15
• 8:00 – 8:30 a.m. Smokey Bear State Park (118 West Smokey Bear Blvd, Capitan, NM) • 10:00. – 11:00 a.m. Mescalero Community Center & Tribal Offices (108 Central Ave, Mescalero, NM) • 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Otero County Fair Grounds (401 Fairgrounds Rd, Alamogordo, NM) • 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. El Paso Convention Center (1 Civic Center Plaza, El Paso, TX)
Saturday, Nov. 16: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. The Alamo (300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX)
Sunday, Nov. 17
• 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Blue Skies Air Force Village (5100 John D Ryan Blvd, San Antonio, TX) • 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Downtown Plaza (710 S Main St Plaza, Georgetown, TX)
Monday, Nov. 18
• 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Downtown Main Street (113 S 1st St, Lufkin, TX) • 5:00 – 6:00 pm. Monroe Civic Center (401 Lea Joyner Memorial Expwy, Monroe, LA)
Wednesday, Nov. 20
• 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Brent Elementary School (160 4th St, Brent, AL) • 6:00-7:00 p.m.: Bass Pro Shops (5900 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Lawrenceville, GA)
Thursday, Nov. 21
• 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Federal Building Public Park (900 Georgia Ave. Chattanooga, TN) • 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Titans Football Stadium (1 Titans Way, Nashville, TN), in partnership with Truckload Carriers Association
Friday, Nov. 22: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Chilhowee Park (3301 E Magnolia Ave, Knoxville, TN)
Saturday, Nov. 23: 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. White's Travel Center (2440 Raphine Road, I-81/I-64 at Exit 205, Raphine, VA), in partnership with TravelCenters of America
Sunday, Nov. 24: Delivery to Joint Base Andrews (1345 Arkansas Rd, Joint Base Andrews, MD)
*Subject to change. Monitor website at uscapitolchristmastree.com/tour for the latest updates.
The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is made possible with cash and in-kind contributions from companies large and small as well as volunteers locally and across America, who provide vital support of time and resources. Sponsors include Kenworth Truck Company, Wilbanks Trucking Services, LLC, Spireon, Inc., Elvis Duran & Alex Carr, Hale Trailer, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Alaska Airlines, Meritor, Public Service Company of New Mexico, TravelCenters of America, Truckload Carriers Association, Great West Casualty Company, Taos County, New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, Presbyterian Healthcare Services, National Forest Foundation, Christmas Tree Promotion Board, National Press Club and LexisNexis VitalChek Network, Inc.
For up-to-date tour information, project news and highlights, visit www.uscapitolchristmastree.com.