The State Christmas Tree, a 50 ft Balsam Fir harvested from Randolph County’s Kumbrabow State Forest, was lit on Lincoln Plaza at the state capitol Tuesday night by Gov. Jim Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice.
The West Virginia Division of Forestry, the General Services Division and the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) all participated in the cutting, transporting and positioning of the tree.
During the event attendees heard a special reading of a Marc Harshman Christmas poem by Winfield High School student and creative writing contest winner Braylee Smolder.
Additionally, Philip Barbour High School Band, Capital High School VIP’s Show Choir, and the Barboursville Elementary Choir performed and the girls basketball team from Greenbrier East High School read ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clark Moore.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting will broadcast an encore of the celebration on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 5 p.m. on The West Virginia Channel.