Official Christmas tree arrives at State House

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South Carolina’s official  Christmas tree arrived at the State House on Monday, Nov. 7.

This year’s tree is a 35-foot-tall Norway spruce from Henderson Tree Farms in Morganton, N.C., and is taller and fuller than usual because it was grown in the Carolinas, according to a press release from Experience Columbia SC.

The tree was acquired by the Columbia Garden Club with support from the Garden Club of South Carolina.

Bruce Vollnogle, owner of TimberTech in Greer, transported the tree to Columbia, an annual ritual that has become a tradition for him over the past 18 years. R.J. Shirley donated the crate to move the tree to its spot.

Over the coming days, Dominion Energy will string more than 13,000 LED lights on the tree and the garden clubs will hang 900 ornaments, said Melissa Prickett of the Garden Club of South Carolina.

The tree will stay dark until the annual Governor’s Carolighting on Sunday, Nov. 20. The festivities will begin at 6 p.m. on the State House’s north lawn and will be televised live on SCETV.