The official White House Christmas Tree will be making a pit stop in downtown Lenoir tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018.
Larry Smith, owner of Mountain Top Fraser Fir in Newland, was named the National Christmas Tree Association Grand Champion Christmas Tree grower, and the White House Christmas Tree was selected from his farm in Avery County.
Smith is harvesting the tree tomorrow and then heading toward Washington, D.C. He plans to make a stop in downtown Lenoir tomorrow around 2:00 pm. Smith has operated the Christmas tree lot at the intersection of Mulberry Street and Morganton Boulevard for many years.
“Larry is a native of Caldwell County,” Mayor Joe Gibbons said. “Providing the official White House Christmas Tree is a really big deal and we’re inviting everyone to come downtown tomorrow, see the tree in person, and congratulate Larry.”
Gibbons said the drivers plan to stop near the square.
White House staff selected the tree at the end of September. Smith will present the tree to First Lady Melania Trump Monday, Nov. 19.
Although generally there is more than one Christmas tree at the White House, the White House Christmas Tree, also known as the Blue Room Christmas Tree, is the official indoor Christmas tree at the residence of the President.