LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Down in Lansing, the Capitol community is getting ready to start the holiday season. The 40th Silver Bells in the City holiday celebration will take place this Friday, November 22, from 5 until 9 p.m..
Downtown, Michigan’s 38th Capitol Christmas tree is just about ready for the tree lighting.
Heath Miller leads the 4-person team from the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget that’s in charge of the tree each year. This is the 10th tree he’s harvested, a 60-foot spruce delivered to its place on Capitol Avenue and Michigan on November 2. This year, the tree only traveled 18 miles from the home of Rich and Dorcas Albertson in Eagle, Michigan.
“There’s millions of trees in Michigan and to pick just that one every year that’s going to represent here at the Capitol is a big responsibility,” Miller said. “Once we set the tree in place, the crews come in and get the tree lights put on it and the foresters will come in and take care of things. From then on it’s taken care of by the Capitol committee and other entities.”
The Lansing Board of Water and Light has spent the last few weeks decorating the tree, preparing it for Silver Bells in the City. Spectators can expect a holiday light parade, drone show, and fireworks over the capitol dome.
“All the people that we work with, all the crews, all the organizations, so much work and preparation goes into it, and this is the culmination of it at the end for us,” Miller said. “All that work, it makes it worth it because it’s such a great feeling and kicks off the Christmas season.”
Workers are putting the finishing touches on the tree before Silver Bells in the City, where nearly 40,000 people are expected to gather as they light up the tree to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season.
