Wisconsin Tree Harvest to Go to State Capitol
A Gillett family's Christmas tree will be harvested Nov. 13 for the 2026 State Capitol Rotunda display.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Landscaping
A Wisconsin-grown Christmas tree will be harvested on November 13, 2026, at approximately 10 a.m. in Gillett for the 2026 Wisconsin State Capitol Rotunda holiday display. Students and families statewide are also invited to create handmade ornaments for the tree.
Why it matters
The annual selection of a Wisconsin-grown tree highlights the state's Christmas tree industry and ties the Capitol display to local growers. This year's theme, "The Year of the Neighbor," was named by Gov. Tony Evers.
The harvest will take place at 7705 County Road V in Gillett on November 13, 2026, at about 10 a.m. The 2025 Capitol Rotunda tree was a 30-foot donation from the same donors.
The players
Dave and Mary Vander Velden
Longtime Christmas tree growers and former owners of Whispering Pines Christmas Trees in Oconto County, they donated the 2026 tree and previously presented the official White House Christmas Tree to First Lady Michelle Obama.
Tony Evers
The Governor of Wisconsin, he named "The Year of the Neighbor" as the theme of the 2026 State Capitol Holiday Tree.
The details
Members of the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association will conduct the harvest, with equipment and support from Ponsse. The harvest is coordinated with the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association and the Wisconsin Department of Administration.
Timeline
2016: Dave and Mary Vander Velden won the National Grand Champion title from the National Christmas Tree Association.
2025: The Vander Velden family donated the Capitol Rotunda tree and the Governor's Executive Residence tree.
November 13, 2026: Tree harvest in Gillett at approximately 10 a.m.
2026 holiday season: Tree displayed in the State Capitol Rotunda.
Seasonal Patterns
The Vander Velden family's 2025 donation of the 30-foot Capitol Rotunda tree sets the recent pattern this 2026 harvest continues. The selection follows the state's annual practice of choosing a Wisconsin-grown tree for the Rotunda display.
Residents can take part by creating handmade ornaments for the 2026 State Capitol Holiday Tree, a statewide invitation to students and families. The display is open to visitors at the State Capitol during the holiday season.
The takeaway
Wisconsin families can join the statewide tradition by making an ornament for the State Capitol tree this holiday season. Participation connects local households to the state's Christmas tree industry.
What happens next
The tree will be harvested on November 13, 2026, and displayed in the State Capitol Rotunda during the 2026 holiday season.
Further reading
For more on seasonal plantings and tree care, explore Landscaping coverage.
