Gov. Doug Ducey kicks off holiday season at Arizona State Capitol

PHOENIX — The Christmas season officially got underway at the Arizona State Capitol on Monday, with the annual tree-lighting ceremony.

Gov. Doug Ducey tweeted just before the tree lights were turned on at the Executive Tower, “It’s the most wonderful time of year!”

The annual ceremony featured a performance from Chandler High School’s barbershop singing group the Treblemakers.

The 2018 Capitol Christmas Tree comes from the Coconino National Forest southwest of Flagstaff. Thanks to the Coconino National Forest crew for bringing this beautiful tree to Phoenix and for your work, to improve forest health and protect #AZ from wildfire. pic.twitter.com/ugbsVIz9Ys

— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) November 26, 2018

Livin in a ‘Zona Wonderland! 🌵☃️✨@chstrebles pic.twitter.com/wolAXEbYtt

— The 9th Floor (@9thFloorAZ) November 26, 2018

The 26-foot white fir was cut down and brought in by a crew from the State Division of Forestry and Fire Management in Winslow.

The #AZForestry #Winslow Crew w/ the Capitol Christmas tree. The crew cut down the 26' White Fir on the @CoconinoNF earlier this month to serve as the 2018 tree. Today @dougducey flipped the switch on the tree's lights🎄to kick off the holiday season! #AZFire @AZCorrections pic.twitter.com/nZTof0zI4q

— AZ State Forestry (@azstateforestry) November 26, 2018

It was cut down in an area of the Coconino National Forest where a thinning project had recently been completed. The thinning will protect Flagstaff from a catastrophic wildfire and restore ecological balance.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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