WILLISTON – The community is invited to join the City of Williston in celebrating a treasured holiday tradition with the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree on Dec. 2!
2024 marks the 10th year of the annual Christmas Tree lighting after it was re-introduced by Mayor Howard Klug in 2014. Each year, a tree is selected from a list of homeowners who have chosen to donate their tree.
This year’s Community Christmas Tree comes from 1813 8th Ave. E., donated by Travis Nelsen and his family.
A Colorado Blue Spruce around 41-feet tall and weighing about 6,500 pounds, the tree was moved on Tuesday, Nov. 12 to its holder on the corner of 26th St. W. and 2nd Ave. W.
Homeowner Travis Nelsen was on hand to watch as the tree was harvested, commenting that the tree was becoming too large for his yard, which prompted him to look into donating it towards the Community Christmas Tree program.
“I will miss the tree, that’s the biggest thing,” Travis said. “But it’s a good feeling to have it donated and used for the Christmas Tree for Williston, rather than just being cut down and taken away.”
With the tree in place, the community is invited to the 10th Annual Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Monday, Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m., weather permitting and pursuant to current burn restrictions. There will be a bonfire, refreshments sponsored by Alliance Consulting, holiday music, and a brief ceremony before the official lighting of the tree, followed by a fireworks display by TNT Fireworks.
This project was made possible by 11 Bravo Property Services, LLC., 3 Forks Service, Aces Energy Services, Alliance Consulting, TNT Fireworks, City of Williston Public Works, Williston Police Dept. and Williston Fire Dept. Drone footage will also be captured by Alliance Consulting.
In addition, the community is invited to participate in the annual Community Christmas Tree Ornament Contest!
Individuals are encouraged to get creative and make their best ornament to hang on the tree for a chance to win a prize pack.
The contest is open to all ages with the following age groups:
6 and under, 7-10, 11-14, 15+.
Beginning Monday, Nov. 25, individuals can place their homemade ornaments on the tree. Contest participants have until Friday, Dec. 6 to place their ornaments.
To successfully enter the contest, individuals must:
Take a picture of their ornament on the Community Christmas Tree OR a picture of them placing their ornament on the Community Christmas Tree.
Submit pictures via Facebook Messenger to the City of Williston (@cityofwilliston) or email to [email protected], include their name and age and a name for the ornament. Place their ornament by Friday, Dec. 6
Two winners from each age group will be selected by Friday, Dec. 13 and announced the following week. All submissions will be showcased on the City of Williston Facebook and Instagram pages.
Participants are reminded that ornaments will be outside, so make sure they can withstand the elements if you want them back. A future timeframe will be provided for those who would like to retrieve their ornaments, if desired. The Community Christmas Tree will stay up until the end of December.
Individuals are also invited to place ornaments on the tree without participating in the ornament contest.
For more information on this story, please contact Mitch Melberg, Communications Director, at 701-713-3800 or [email protected].
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