Gov. Josh Stein kicked off North Carolina’s holiday season Thursday night by lighting the State Capitol Christmas Tree in downtown Raleigh, celebrating the state’s nationally ranked Christmas tree industry.
The tree is positioned outside the Capitol building and is visible along the length of Fayetteville Street. The annual lighting ceremony features speeches by state dignitaries and attracts a crowd of families, residents, and officials.
The ceremony included musical performances and remarks from the governor, who used the occasion to highlight North Carolina’s nationally recognized Christmas tree industry. The state is one of the nation’s top producers of Fraser firs and other evergreens, a point Stein highlighted in his welcome to attendees.
“We have a proud legacy of growing Christmas trees in North Carolina, in fact, more than one out of every four Christmas trees across this country grew in the soil of North Carolina,” Stein said. “We are in the top two states for growing Christmas trees and that’s why I am so happy to be able to spotlight North Carolina’s growers in this lighting ceremony.”
Stein also reflected on the symbolic importance of light during the holiday season, encouraging North Carolinians to serve as “a light” in their communities.
“Sometimes when it is dark it can feel overwhelming, despairing, or even scary,” Stein said. “But light is more powerful. Because when things are at their darkest, when it is pitch black, a single light can pierce the darkness. A single light can inspire more light, so together let’s be the light.”
The governor recognized educators, law enforcement officers, and residents he described as everyday “lights” across the state, thanking them for their service as the holidays approach.
Following the lighting, Stein invited attendees to visit the decorated North Carolina Executive Mansion and the Capitol building, both of which were opened to the public following the seasonal celebration.
The State Capitol Christmas Tree, the tree in the rotunda of the Capitol, and all the wreaths were grown by Peak Farms, Barr Evergreens, and Mistletoe Meadows. All three farms are in Western North Carolina.
This year’s event capped a week of season celebrations at the Capitol.
On Wednesday, Dec. 10, Stein recognized winners of the 2025 Growers Contest and welcomed representatives of the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association to the State Capitol as a part of the annual tree receiving ceremony. He honored North Carolina farmers and discussed the state’s consistent leadership in the Christmas tree industry, per a press release from the Office of Governor Stein.
