KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Now that Halloween is over, Michigan is getting ready to bring some holiday cheer to downtown Lansing.

On Friday, crews traveled to Eagle, Michigan to pick up the state’s 38th Christmas tree, a 60-foot fir donated by Rich and Dorcas Albertson.

For the couple, the decision to donate their tree was “bittersweet.”

“It’s a beautiful tree and we love it,” the Albertsons said. “We have enjoyed it in our front yard for over 27 years, but it is overgrowing its spot and invading our driveway. We will certainly miss it.”

They continued, “When we first moved in, we hung lights on the tree every Christmas before it got too big. It will be fun to see it decorated with lights again this holiday season.”

The Albertson tree is the second spruce chosen in Clinton County and the 14th chosen from Michigan’s Lower Peninsula since the official tree was placed on the Capitol in 1987, state officials said.

To be selected as the state’s annual Christmas tree, Michiganders submitted nominations beginning May 15 of trees they believed met the state’s criteria, said Heath Miller, a member of the Michigan Christmas tree harvest crew.

Some of the criteria include:

• Must be 60 feet long
• It must be a spruce
• Must have a 20 foot crown

Nominations then closed on Aug. 15, giving crews time to go out, sift through all the trees and determine which one will be chosen, Miller said.

“It varies every year, a lot of things depend on the location, how close the tree is to power lines, what the tree looks like in terms of shape and branches, so every year it’s a little bit different,” Miller said. “We always narrow it down to two or three, and we’ll choose which one is the best.”

The Albertson’s 60-foot fir will be delivered to downtown Lansing on Saturday.

Once in place, the City of Lansing’s forestry team will prepare the tree for a tree lighting ceremony that will take place during the 40th annual Silver Bells in the City celebration on November 22.

Nominations for Michigan’s 39th Christmas tree in 2025 can be submitted via email.