This year’s Capitol Christmas tree is coming from our part of Idaho. The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests will provide the tree to stand in front of the Nation’s Capitol.
Governor Brad Little commented “We’re excited to share some Idaho spirit with families across the country next Christmas season.”
Every year the Capitol tree is carefully selected from one of America’s 154 national forests and taken to the U.S. Capitol after a whistlestop tour in communities locally and across the U.S.
Before its journey, the forests and non-profit partners will host a series of events across north-central Idaho to celebrate the tree, make ornaments, and learn about the forests. It’s traditionally decorated with around 5,000 handmade ornaments from its home state.
The last time Idaho provided the Capitol tree was in 2016. It came from the Payette National Forest.
The tree is expected to be standing and lit in either the last week of November or the first week of December.
Jon Word, forest supervisor on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests announced, “It is a great honor to provide the 2026 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, the “People’s Tree”, from the Nez Perce-Clearwater. We look forward to working closely with the Nez Perce Tribe, the Society of American Foresters and all our partners and communities.”
