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Menlo Park has officially retired the Douglas fir long used in its annual holiday tree-lighting ceremony, citing the need to preserve the aging tree’s health and protect a piece of local history, according to city spokesperson Kendra Calvert.
The Douglas fir, which served as the centerpiece of the celebration for decades, is estimated to be about 70 years old and bears a scar from a lightning strike about 20 years ago. City staff said its declining condition made continued decorating unsafe and risked damaging the tree’s structural integrity.
In 2024, the city shifted the holiday lighting to a younger coast live oak in Fremont Park. Staff initially expected the move to be temporary, but the oak now appears poised to become the permanent tree for the ceremony.
The coast live oak is a fitting choice for Menlo Park. The species appears in the city’s official logo and is a well-known symbol of California. Coast live oaks can live for several centuries, sometimes surpassing 600 years, and are valued for their resilience.
They are also considered a keystone species that support diverse wildlife, according to the city. Their canopies provide habitat for birds and other animals and host insects, including caterpillars that serve as key food sources for predators.
The annual tree lighting is on Dec. 5 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Did they consider a Festivus Pole?
Not that there’s anything wrong with being an oak tree…
In addition to the 1000 years of tradition of choosing evergreen trees for winter traditions, having tree that survived a lightning strike added extra sTREEt cred.