U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Visits Olympia Friday, November 8, 4-6pm

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree will be in Olympia on Friday, November 8 from 4pm-6pm.  Governor Jay Inslee will be welcoming the tree and presenting a gift from the State of Washington.  Join us in sending off the tree to Washington, D.C. This is a holiday event you surely will not want to miss! Smokey Bear and Santa Claus will also be attending. Free Hot Chocolate and candy canes will be provided. People will be able to sign a banner that travels with the tree to Washington D.C.  The 2013 88 foot tall Engelmann Spruce was cut in the Colville National Forest in northeast Washington State on November 1st, Colville National Forest staff selected several tree candidates and in   June the superintendent of the capitol grounds made the final selection of the official 2013 Capitol Christmas Tree.   The tree grew on the Newport District in Pend Oreille County.  It was wrapped over a period of three days for its journey and will spend several weeks on the road visiting communities across the country before arriving at the U.S. Capital in time for Thanksgiving.   The Capitol Christmas Tree will travel with companion trees designated for offices around the capital, and more than 5,000 handmade ornaments. After the lighting ceremony, the Capitol Christmas Tree will be lit nightly from dusk to 11:00pm throughout the holiday season.   For more information about the tree and how Washington was selected, visit www.capitolchristmastree.com