Milford will host Capitol Mall Christmas tree on ‘Black Friday'

MILFORD — The 60-foot Balsam Fir that will stand on the National Mall in front of the U.S. Capitol throughout the holiday season will be stopping for an overnight visit in Milford, on “Black Friday,” Nov 23. An entourage of 22 antique Mack trucks will transport the nation’s holiday tree, a “parts” tree, companion trees, ornaments and exhibits from the Green Mountain National Forest in Bennington, Vt., through Milford and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area to its final destination in Washington, D.C. The Milford stop was included because of the strong tie to Gifford Pinchot, founder and first chief of the U.S. Forest Service, whose ancestral home is Grey Towers National Historic Site in Milford, Pa. The Milford Business Council will welcome the Capitol Christmas Tree at about 3 p.m. on Nov. 23 and festivities are planned from 4 to 6 p.m. Guest speakers, holiday music, refreshments, lighting of the street trees and more events are planned throughout the borough. In addition to parking the tree on Catharine Street, a truck with an antique sleigh will be parked at the Columns Museum and a truckload of Vermont goodies will be available. The Milford Business Council is encouraging businesses to take advantage of this “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity on what many consider the busiest shopping day of the year: Black Friday. For more information, contact the Milford Business Council at 570-296-8700 or the U.S. Forest Service at Grey Towers at 570-296-9630.