The lighting of the Norfolk Island pine (star pine) at 4th and C Street, an Encinitas Heritage Tree, is anticipated by many families every holiday season. Hundreds turn out and count down to the moment when the tree’s cheerful Christmas lights flick on.
As I walked past the Encinitas Historical Society’s old 1883 Schoolhouse today, I noticed volunteers laying out new strands for the tree’s Christmas lights!
I learned that the enormous pine requires 18 strands, each 110 feet long. The combined strands will support a total of 1600 lights!
The friendly volunteers filled my ears with many old stories, and explained how Louie led the effort to decorate the tree 29 years ago. This Heritage Tree, which they call Louie’s Tree, is a little over 70 years old.
The lighting of the Heritage Tree in 2023, I’m told, will feature four children’s choirs. The program will take place on December 1, from 4 to 6 pm. You can’t miss the beautiful tree. It stands high above Moonlight Beach, a bit south of the main parking lot.
Here’s a photo I took of the Heritage Tree during a walking tour of Encinitas in 2021:
Almost 2000 feet of Christmas lights will be wound around its branches!
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