When locals and visitors watch the Twice Around Parade and join in singing carols at the Community Tree Lighting, most are unaware of how the natural tree becomes part of the event.
It begins in the summer when Forester Sierra Barfield searches the Weyerhaeuser Snow Peak Tree Farm near Sweet Home for suitable trees.
In November, she tracks the harvest locations and identifies potential candidates. It could be a high-altitude Noble Fir or, if snow is present in the hills, a Douglas Fir from lower down the mountain.
On the Monday morning, six days before the tree lighting, Sierra and her team meet the “buncher” which cuts the tree and lays it on the truck.
This year’s Douglas Fir lost a few branches during harvest and transport, but volunteers reattached several after delivery.
Each year the tree is donated by Weyerhaeuser and transported by Ram Trucking. Pacific Power expertly lifts it into place. Then, Public Works adds lights and ornaments provided by the Albany Downtown Association. Due to the tree’s wispy branches, only limited, lightweight decorations can be added.
This year’s tree would make Charlie Brown smile. We just wish we could add Linus’s blue blanket.
