Governor Leads Capitol Tree Lighting, Launches Holiday Giving Campaign
Gov. Greg Gianforte and other state leaders lit a 29 foot Douglas fir in the Capitol rotunda on December 1, marking the start of the holiday display and a new charitable drive. The tree, harvested from U.S. Forest Service land near Seeley Lake, will remain on view through December, offering residents a civic gathering point and an opportunity to contribute to local charities.
On December 1, Gov. Greg Gianforte joined other state leaders for the annual Capitol Christmas tree lighting in Helena. The centerpiece was a 29 foot Douglas fir harvested from U.S. Forest Service land near Seeley Lake, set in the Capitol rotunda and decorated with thousands of lights and ornaments. Carroll College choirs provided caroling during the ceremony, which drew state officials, college students, and members of the public to the Capitol steps.
The governor used the public ceremony to launch a 12 Days of Giving campaign, and he drew attention to local Toys for Tots donations during the event. Organizers said the tree will remain on display in the Capitol rotunda through December, inviting visitors across Montana to view the decorations and participate in seasonal programming on the Capitol campus.
The event highlights the intersection of state ceremonial traditions and public policy. The tree harvest from U.S. Forest Service land underscores ongoing collaboration between federal land managers and state ceremonial programs, and it raises routine questions about permits, public land stewardship, and the visibility of federal resource decisions in community events. The use of a high profile state event to launch a charitable drive illustrates how executive office platforms can amplify nonprofit fundraising efforts and encourage civic participation.
For Helena and Lewis and Clark County, the lighting functions as both a cultural event and a modest driver of foot traffic in the downtown core. Local choirs and community groups were visible contributors to the program, reinforcing links between higher education institutions and state government in public life. The Capitol display offers a seasonal destination for families, school groups, and visitors, and it provides a tangible point for residents to engage with holiday philanthropy and civic ritual.
Montanans seeking to view the tree and participate in the 12 Days of Giving campaign are invited to visit the Capitol rotunda through December. The ceremony combined traditional holiday pageantry with a call to local giving, reflecting the Capitol s role as a venue for community convening and statewide communications.
