LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – The holiday season has officially arrived in Lansing. And this year, it came from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
A 60-foot spruce tree from Sault Ste. Marie was harvested last week and made the long trip downstate to stand tall on the lawn of the Michigan State Capitol. The tree will serve as the centerpiece of this year’s Silver Bells in the City celebration, marking the official start of the state’s holiday season.
Heath Miller, a member of the State Capitol Christmas Tree Crew, said the journey began with a community celebration in the Soo.
“We harvested it on Thursday, and it was a great event,” Miller said. “The band came, the pom-pom groups came, tons of different people. It was just a great community event up there.”
Each year, Michigan’s Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB) selects one Michigan-grown tree to be displayed at the Capitol. The process starts months in advance, with residents across the state nominating trees from their own yards.
“People can nominate their trees, and we go look at each and every one of them to see if they qualify,” Miller explained. “They need to be at least 60 feet tall with a 24-foot crown and a trunk no more than 30 inches in diameter. There’s a lot that goes into finding just the right one.”
This year’s tree met all those marks, and more. After being cut and carefully secured for travel, it made the more than 300-mile trip from the eastern U.P. to Lansing.
Miller said the project is a true team effort, involving state crews, professional organizations, and local volunteers who donate their time and equipment to make the annual tradition possible.
“We work with the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association, the Michigan Association of Timbermen, the Operating Engineers, the Township Associations, and so many people from the community,” he said. “Even the homeowner donates the tree and their time. Everyone just looks forward to it every year.”
After arriving in Lansing, the Boy Scouts helped remove the restraints around the branches before the tree was lifted into place. In the coming days, the Lansing Forestry Division will shape and secure it before the Board of Water and Light adds thousands of twinkling lights.
The tree will be fully decorated in time for the Silver Bells in the City parade on Friday, November 21, when thousands are expected to gather downtown to watch the official lighting.
For Miller, helping deliver the tree each year is more than a job; it’s a holiday tradition that connects Michigan communities across hundreds of miles.
“It’s such an honor and a blessing to be part of this event,” he said. “So many people look forward to it, it’s what starts the Christmas season for them. It’s wonderful to bring a little bit of that joy to people and get it going for them.”
From its U.P. roots to its place at the heart of the Capitol, this year’s Christmas tree represents not just the start of the season, but the spirit of generosity and teamwork that makes Michigan shine.
