Columbia kicks off holiday season as SC Christmas Tree arrives at State House

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The holiday season is returning to the Palmetto State as the beloved South Carolina State Christmas Tree arrived Tuesday morning.

This year‘s tree is a 35-foot Norway Spruce from Henderson Tree Farms in Morganton, North Carolina, and is especially notable because it survived Hurricane Helene.

Dominion Energy said they will string over 13,000 LED lights on the tree while the Columbia Garden Club and Garden Club of South Carolina decorate it with 900 ornaments.

Officials with Experience Columbia SC, the Columbia Garden Club, the Garden Club of South Carolina and Miss South Carolina Davis Wash spoke to the public before the tree‘s arrival at the North Lawn of the South Carolina State House at 8:45 a.m.

During their remarks, they spoke about this year‘s tree and the upcoming Governor’s Carolighting Ceremony on Nov. 24. The Carolighting Ceremony will feature performers from across South Carolina “from the Gullah lowcountry sounds of Marlena Smalls and the Hallelujah Singers to to the Presbyterian College Choir, Carolighting Children’s Choir, New Prospect Elementary’s One Voice Choir and the 282nd Fort Jackson Army band from right here in the Midlands," according to Experience Columbia SC.

The ceremony will also feature a visit from Santa Claus and a pop-up shop. The tree will officially be lit from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Miss South Carolina’s remarks can be seen below:

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