Tree-mendous news: This year’s Capitol Holiday Tree will be harvested in Oconto County

The 2025 Capitol Holiday Tree will stem from Oconto County. Here are all the fun details.

This year’s Capitol Holiday Tree will be harvested in Oconto County at Dave and Mary Vander Velden’s tree field, located in Gillett. The balsam fir, which is an impressive 30 feet tall, was initially planted back in 2002. Speaking with the Green Bay Press Gazette, Dave Vander Velden said, “I had about four or five of them that were like that – they shined. And from that point on I never cut them. I just let those grow.”

Previously, the Vander Veldens owned and operated Whispering Pines Christmas Trees before selling the business in 2019. They decided to continue renting the property, though, “because the trees were genetically very good trees, and I couldn’t see leaving them and not harvesting them,” Vander Velden told the outlet.

In addition to the Capitol Rotunda’s tree, a 25-foot tree will also be harvested at the Vander Velden’s tree field on November 17. That one will go to the Governor’s Residence in Maple Bluff. And this isn’t the first time the Vander Velden’s have had their trees selected for an impactful holiday tradition. Back in 2016, President Barack Obama and his family displayed one of the Vander Velden’s trees at the White House.

The Capitol Holiday Tree will be displayed in Madison 

As per tradition, the Vander Velden’s beloved balsam fir will be displayed in the Wisconsin State Capitol building’s rotunda throughout the holidays. Students from across Wisconsin are currently in the process of decorating handmade ornaments to adorn the Holiday Tree once it makes its arrival. The theme for this year’s ornaments is “The Learning Tree,” and Governor Tony Evers said that he’s excited to see how they turn out. “Kathy and I are both really looking forward to seeing all of the amazing ornaments kids from across Wisconsin will be sending in to help decorate the tree in the Capitol this year to help celebrate learning and the people who help make it happen.”

The official tree lighting ceremony will take place on December 4 at 12 p.m. and will be open to the public.