Roughly 700 people came to Alturas International Academy to see the tree that stopped briefly in Idaho Falls for a community celebration on Monday morning. Many others have attended similar events as the tree has journeyed around the state in recent days.

Brian Harris, public affairs officer with the Payette National Forest, said people have come to see the tree, learn more about it and sign the banner accompanying it.

“The events have been going extremely well throughout the entire state,” he said.

This year’s Capitol Christmas Tree, also known as “The People’s Tree,” was harvested at Payette National Forest in Central Idaho. Harris noted that this is only the second time the Capitol Christmas Tree has come from Idaho in the 46 years that the U.S. Forest Service has been providing the tree.

The Engelmann Spruce is native to the state.

“We wanted to pick out a tree that actually belongs here in Idaho,” Harris said.

Idahoans, including many children, created 18,000 ornaments for the Capitol Christmas Tree and other trees that are also going to Washington locations.

“One of our tasks was really to make this a gift from the entire state of Idaho,” Harris said.

The ornaments were inspired by Idaho symbols, like the state flower (syringa), the state vegetable and fruit (potato and huckleberry), and the state horse (the appaloosa), Harris said.

The Big Idaho Potato Truck is also following the tree on its journey as far as Nashville.

Retired businessman Cliff Brady and his wife, Ruth, were among the hundreds of people who came to see the tree during its stop in Idaho Falls on Monday.

“I just wanted to see the big tree that’s going to be in Washington, D.C., in front of the Capitol Building. That tree is from Idaho, that’s kind of special,” Cliff said.

Ruth agreed.

Many children were also able to see the tree on Monday.

Dani Holverson with Koala Kids Academy visited the tree along with kindergarten-age students. She said they’ve been telling the children about the tree and the journey it is making.

“I think it’s phenomenal,” Holverson said, adding that such events help kids to get excited about their state.

The tree, which needs 20 to 30 gallons of water a day to stay green and fresh, made its last Idaho stop in Twin Falls on Monday. It’s now continuing its journey through other states as it makes its way to Washington, D.C. But it’s taking a piece of Idaho with it.

“Our senators, our governor, I mean they just love it because it’s really taking a piece of Idaho back to Washington, D.C.,” Harris said. “And they’re intent is that along with the tree goes a little bit of values from Idaho.”