2018 Capitol Tree Tour
Sweet Home, OR… This year, the Willamette National Forest, in partnership with nonprofit organization Choose Outdoors and Travel Oregon, will bring the 2018 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, also known as "The People's Tree," to more than 25 communities this holiday season.
For the sixth year, the Truckload Carriers Association will be playing a key role in the delivery of "The People's Tree." TCA member company, and 2018 Best Fleets to Drive For Small Carrier Category Winner, Central Oregon Truck Company, will be transporting the tree.
The 2018 tour announcement is appropriately timed to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the National Trails Systems Act, one of the inspirations for the 2018 theme of “Find Your Trail."
On Friday, November 2, the tree will be cut and prepared for the more than 3,000-mile journey that commemorates the second inspiration for the theme — the 175th anniversary of the Oregon Trail — by following a reverse path of the trail.
A series of festive events will be hosted by local communities at museums, main streets, city halls, state capitols, markets, retailers, high schools, and even a parade.
This November, TCA member companies Meritor, Inc. and MHC Kenworth, as well as Doran Logistics Services, will be hosting a whistle stop November 20 and 23 in their respective cities.
Whistle stop attendees will have the opportunity to sign the trailer banner, learn about the Willamette National Forest and the great state of Oregon, purchase U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree merchandise, and more.
TCA encourages member companies to visit one or more of the following events:
•Friday, November 9: Sweet Home High School, 1641 Long St, Sweet Home, Oregon 97386 (12:00 p.m. Street Fair, 6:00 p.m. Parade and 7:30 p.m. Program);
•Saturday, November 10: Linn County Circuit Court, 300 SW Fourth Avenue, Albany, Oregon 97321 (9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.);
•Saturday, November 10: Cabela’s, 2800 Gateway Street, Springfield, Oregon 97477 (4:00 – 5:30 p.m.);
•Sunday, November 11: McKenzie River Ranger Station, 57600 McKenzie Highway 126, McKenzie Bridge, Oregon 97413 (10:30 – 11:30 a.m.);
•Sunday, November 11: 48257 E. 1st, Oakridge, Oregon 97463 (2:30 – 4:30 p.m.);
•Monday, November 12: 450 SW Powerhouse Dr., Ste 422, Bend, Oregon 97702 (11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.);
•Monday, November 12: 160 Detroit Ave, Detroit, Oregon 97342 (5:00 – 7:00 p.m.);
•Tuesday, November 13: Oregon State Capitol, 900 Court St NE, Salem, Oregon 97301 (10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.);
•Tuesday, November 13: Oregon City, Oregon;
•Wednesday, November 14: The Dalles City Hall, 313 Court Street, The Dalles, Oregon 97058 (9:00 –10:00 a.m.);
•Wednesday, November 14: Baker City, Oregon;
•Friday, November 16: City Hall, 911 North 7th Avenue, Pocatello, Idaho 83201 (9:00 – 10:00 a.m.);
•Saturday, November 17: Ft. Bridger State Historic Site, 37001 Isthmus Loop I-80 Fort Bridger, Wyoming 82933 (9:00-10:00 a.m.);
•Sunday, November 18: 975 Snowy Range Road, Laramie, Wyoming 82070 (9:00 – 10:00 a.m.);
•Sunday, November 18: Scottsbluff, Nebraska including parade route from 23rd St. to 17th Street on Broadway and ceremony on the 1700 block of Broadway (6:00-7:00 p.m.);
•Monday, November 19: Otoe County Courthouse, 110 South 11th, Nebraska City, Nebraska 68410 (6:00 – 7:00 p.m.);
•Tuesday, November 20: Perry High School, 404 Lecompton Rd, Perry, Kansas 66073 (12:00 – 1:00 p.m.);
•Tuesday, November 20: MHC Kenworth, 1524 N. Corrington, Kansas City, Missouri 64120 (4:00 – 5:00 p.m.);
•Wednesday, November 21: Independence Uptown Market, 201 W. Truman Rd, Independence, Missouri 64050 (9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.);
•Thursday, November 22: 2018 Ameren Thanksgiving Day Parade, 7th Street and Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri (8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.);
•Friday, November 23: The Harrison Pavilion, 101 Harrison Avenue, Harrison, Ohio 45030 (2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.); and
•Sunday, November 25: Andrews Air Force Base, 1500 Perimeter Rd. Joint Base Andrews, Maryland (11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.).
The locations of stops are subject to change. All times are approximate and do not account for unforeseen weather and traffic delays.
The official tree lighting will occur in early December as determined by the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
In addition to Central Oregon Truck Company, Doran Logistics Services, Meritor, Inc., and Kenworth Truck Company, numerous TCA member companies play a vital role in the tree's delivery: Eaton Corporation, Great West Casualty Company, Pilot Flying J, and SkyBitz.
Other notable sponsors and volunteers include: Papé, KGW8, Oregon Forest Resources Institute, Hale Trailer, VanDoIt, Alaska Airlines, Husqvarna, Willamette Valley Visitors Association, Axis Crane, and the National Forest Foundation and the City of Sweet Home.
For tour information, event details, news and updates, and to track the tree cross-country, visit www.capitolchristmastree.com or search the hashtag #CapitolChristmasTree on social media networks.