VERMONT - Bringing an Old Fashioned
Holiday to the Nation

Special Events

Local • Statewide • Washington D.C. • Tree Lighting Ceremony

Photos of Past Events can be found in the Gallery

Local:

Opening October 26th:
The Chaffee Art Center in Rutland Vermont will be hosting the Inspirations from the Forest exhibit.

This exhibition was produced by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, in conjunction with the USDA Forest Service and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Inspirations from the Forest exhibition explores the ways our national forests--timberlands, grasslands, mountains, and waterways--have served and continue to serve as inspirations to those who create works of art.

In conjunction with the Inspirations from the Forest, Chaffee Art Center will also be showing the entry and winner of the Artist's Rendition of the Capitol Tree. More information on this soon.

November 16: Cutting Ceremony in the Green Mountain National Forest:
10 a.m. to Noon, Harvesting of the 2007 Capitol Christmas Tree, guest speakers Hannah Teter and Governor Jim Douglas
Appearances by Santa Claus, Smokey Bear

Where: Somerset Landing Strip, Forest Road 71 (Somerset Road) approximately 6-8 miles from the Route 9 turn off outside Bennington, Vermont. More detailed instructions, with a map, are now available (pdf download).

Please bring your family and friends, wear waterproof boots, and dress for inclement weather--hot chocolate and cookies will be provided to warm you up!

November 19th: 10am-12pm - Bennington Send Off of the Caravan: To be held at the Vermont Veterans' Home in Bennington, Vermont. Our Lt. Governor will be speaking. We will donate and light a beautiful tree on the grounds and dedicate our trip to all our veterans. This is a big event as we officially send our gift to the nation on its way.

November 19: 1 to 3pm - Luncheon Reception for the Capitol Christmas Tree Caravan.
Bennington Museum
A limited number of reservations are available for Committee Members Only who would like to join for lunch Vermont's Lieutenant Governor and the dedicated crew who will drive the National Christmas Tree and 70 smaller trees to Washington, DC. Time:
Downtown: 5-7 pm - AN OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION Parade, luminaries, chestnuts roasting, dickens stroll, live christmas trees decorating the streets, refreshments, Capitol Tree on display, and Bennington's downtown lighting ceremony.

Downtown: Our Bennington Museum's Festival of Trees display will have the same theme of "An Old Fashioned Holiday". That exhibit goes up just as we prepare to leave town with the tree for Washington, DC.

Christmas Tree Caravan

See our Caravan Route Schedule for more events during the caravan!

D.C.

The Delivery of the Capitol Tree and Companion Trees is under the supervision of the Capitol Police. They will provide an escort up to the Capitol and once the trees are handed over, we will attend a brief but joyous reception with our congressional delegations. Then it will be home to rest up for a return trip for the lighting ceremony.

November 26: Tree Delivery Day

Senator Patrick Leahy will be hosting an afternoon reception. This should be a great chance for us to thank them for all their help in caring, cutting and providing security for the tree during this whole project.

December Lighting Ceremony : December 5th, 2007

The 5:00 o'clock official Lighting Ceremony will be led by Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi with guest speakers including Vermont's two Senators, Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders as well as our new Congressman, Peter Welch. We plan musical entertainment and will have our winning artist and school child help push the button to light the tree. A reception will follow immediately at the Botanical Gardens. The reception will be in true Vermont Style featuring many Vermont specialty foods and brews.

Capitol Christmas Tree at Night, photo by Lee Krohn

Share the Spirit and join us in the Cards for Wounded Veterans Campaign!

VERMONT - Bringing an Old Fashioned Holiday to the Nation