Milford to welcome capitol Christmas tree

MILFORD, PA — The 60-foot Balsam Fir that will stand on the National Mall in front of the U.S. Capitol throughout the holiday season will be stopping for an overnight visit in Milford, on Friday, November 23.

An entourage of 22 antique Mack trucks will transport the nation’s holiday tree, a “parts” tree (which will provide branches if the Christmas tree is damaged in its travels), companion trees, ornaments and exhibits from the Green Mountain National Forest in Bennington, VT, through Milford and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area to its final destination in Washington, DC.

The Milford stop was included because of the strong tie to Gifford Pinchot, founder and first chief of the U.S. Forest Service, whose ancestral home is Grey Towers National Historic Site.

The Milford Business Council will welcome the Capitol Christmas Tree at about 3:00 p.m. and festivities are planned for 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Guest speakers, holiday music, refreshments, lighting of the street trees and more are planned throughout the borough. In addition to parking the tree on Catharine Street, a truck with an antique sleigh will be parked at the Columns Museum on Broad Street and a truckload of Vermont goodies will be available.

For more information contact the Milford Business Council at 570/296-8700 or the U.S. Forest Service at Grey Towers at 570/296-9630.