A Capitol Christmas is coming
Tree to arrive in Havasu Nov. 16

An 85-foot Blue Spruce will inch down Main Street in Lake Havasu City before reaching its final destination: the front yard of the U.S. Capitol for the holiday season.

The Capitol Christmas tree, which is coming from Arizona for the first time in the 45-year tradition, will stop here Nov. 16 during its statewide tour.

“This is so historical because it has never happened in the past and who knows when it will happen again for Arizona,” said Greg Tryon, executive director of the Lake Havasu Hospitality Association, the local organization dedicated to encouraging visitors’ return.

The community is invited to gather at noon around Pima Wash, which runs perpendicular to McCulloch Boulevard between Acoma Boulevard and Smoketree Avenue.

The tree is expected to start heading down McCulloch Boulevard, the city’s Main Street, about 12:30 p.m.

A small committee organized a roughly hour-long ceremony starting at 12:30 p.m. to include singing, a mayoral speech and will conclude with a community picture around the tree. Holiday cards printed with the photos and will be for sale, with proceeds benefiting a local charity.

Bart Wagner, Lake Havasu City interim parks and recreation director, said it took a little bit of “planning to make (the event) happen.”

He said three or four other sites were crossed off the list for the event after planners realized that the 100-foot trailer hauling the Blue Spruce wouldn’t be able to turn into the sites.

Tryon said at no time did planners think they wouldn’t be able to accommodate the huge haul.

“We’d find ways,” he said.

Area students joined other school children statewide in making ornaments that will hang from the tree once in Washington D.C.

Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, (D-Calif.), is expected to light the tree either Dec. 8 or Dec. 9.

The U.S. Forest Service organizes which national park sends the annual tree by asking regions if they want to provide the tree. Private donations and sponsors provide the funding to transport the tree.

For more information on the event, go to capitolchristmastree2009.org.

For more information on the local event, call Tryon at (928) 208-3463.

You may contact the reporter at jleatherman@havasunews.com