South Carolina’s official Christmas tree arrives at State House

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — South Carolina’s official Christmas tree made its way to the State House this morning — and for many, its arrival marks the beginning of the holiday season.

Led by police escorts, passersby might have thought a celebrity was coming up Gervais Street.

The 35-foot-tall Norway Spruce that traveled from Henderson Tree Farms in Morganton, North Carolina will become a celebrity of sorts, and for many will mark the beginning of the Christmas and holiday season across the state.

“In the coming days, Dominion Energy will hang about 13,000 lights, and then volunteers from the Columbia Garden Club and the Garden Club of South Carolina will hang about 900 ornaments on the tree,” says Melissa Prickett with the Columbia Garden Club.

Timbertech, a company out of Greer South Carolina, navigated the tree’s journey for the 19th year in a row with RJ Shirley donating the crane used to move the Norway Spruce into place.

The tree, which remains an iconic symbol of the Christmas season for folks driving up and down Gervais Street, will officially be lit at the 57th Annual Governor’s Carolighting Ceremony on November 19th at 6 p.m.

The event will be hosted by Miss South Carolina Jada Samuel and will include performers from across the state.

Charlene Slaughter with Experience Columbia SC says even Santa Claus himself will also be there to greet kids.

“It’s just really important to get things started — to kick off the Christmas season, to have our tree lit up. And it gives the community something to see as you drive down Gervais for the rest of the season. You’ll see this beautiful tree lit up and it really signals Christmas time here in Columbia and across the state.”

Both the Columbia Garden Club and the Garden Club of South Carolina raise funds to purchase the tree each year.