Sacramento, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. and First Lady Anne Gust Brown hosted the 83rd Annual Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 2nd.

This year’s tree is a 53-foot tall white fir from Latour Demonstration State Forest located near Redding in Shasta County, the third Capitol Christmas tree to come from a state forest managed by CAL FIRE on behalf of the public. The tree was cut down by a crew from the Department of General Services (DGS) Real Estate Services Division, then transported by CAL FIRE to the Capitol west lawn where it was set-up and decorated by DGS staff.

The tree is illuminated by approximately 10,000 ultra-low wattage LED lights and decorated with 900 hand-crafted ornaments made by children and adults with developmental disabilities who receive services and support from the state’s development centers and 21 nonprofit regional centers.