Downtown tree becomes Sequim’s Christmas tree

Sequim’s downtown Christmas tree is in place — and it didn’t have to go far.

Emily Westcott, co-organizer of the annual downtown decorating effort, said she learned through the grapevine a local resident wanted to donate the approximate 40-foot tree in his backyard, that happened to be right behind Sequim Museum and Arts, 544 N. Sequim Ave.

The neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous, said he doesn’t want credit because “it’s not about me, it’s about community.”

Last year, community members and Sequim merchants raised funds to purchase a tree from a Bremerton tree farm after volunteers including Captain Crystal Stout were unable to find a donated tree.

A crew with the City of Sequim — including Ty Brown, Luke Bugge, Josh Henning, Mike Madison and Gary Meyer — along with Dan Goettling with Accurate Angle Crane cut down the tree on Nov. 15, maneuvered it out of the man’s backyard, and moved it onto a flatbed before transporting it a few blocks to Centennial Place, the northeast corner of Sequim Avenue and Washington Street.

Westcott said decorations for downtown Sequim were up mostly before the tree was placed. She and other volunteers planned to use a donated lift from Home Depot the following days to decorate the tree and a few more spots downtown.

Lights on the tree go live around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26 as part of the Hometown Holidays event on the corner.

Westcott said there will be boxes prior to the event for guesses to the amount of lights on the tree for a chance at $100.

Hometown Holidays

The event runs from 1-5 p.m. featuring the Sequim City Band, Juan de Fuca Harmony (formerly Olympic Peninsula Men’s Chorus) and Sequim Community Church Singers throughout the afternoon.

Santa Claus arrives at 2 p.m. and will be available along with the Sequim Irrigation Festival royalty for photo ops.

Local scouts will be on hand to sell wreaths, cookies and hot drinks. KSQM 91.5 AM radio will also be broadcasting on site.

The Sequim Museum’s Tractor parade begins at 5 p.m. Staging begins at 4 p.m. and travels south on Sequim Avenue and then west along Washington Street to Mariner Cafe. A rear orange safety triangle is required for each tractor.

Sequim-Dungeness Chamber of Commerce staff said the Elk on a Shelf game begins on Nov. 25, with game cards available at participating retailers.

For more information, visit www.sequimchamber.com.

Photo courtesy of Marilyn Quinn/ Dan Goettling with Accurate Angle Crane moves a tree from a yard before placing it on a flatbed with help from a City of Sequim crew to move it to downtown Sequim on Nov. 15. The anonymous neighbor donated the tree for free saying “it’s about community.”

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash Gary Meyer with the City of Sequim secures the trunk of a donated tree with help from Josh Henning and other crewmen on Nov. 15. The tree was removed by Accurate Angle Crane and city staff. They placed it at Centennial Place, the northeast corner of Sequim Avenue and Washington Street.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ After a Sequim resident donated his tree, crews with Accurate Angle Crane and the City of Sequim moved it a few blocks on Nov. 15 to Centennial Place, the northeast corner of Sequim Avenue and Washington Street.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Dan Goettling with Accurate Angle Crane focuses on placing the downtown Sequim Christmas tree into position on Nov. 15.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ After having to raise funds to find a tree in 2021, volunteers Emily Westcott and Captain Crystal Stout said a local resident a few blocks from downtown Sequim wanted to donate his tree to continue the annual Christmas tree tradition.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ City crewmen Ty Brown, Luke Bugge, Josh Henning, Mike Madison, and Gary Meyer place the donated tree to become the next Christmas tree in downtown Sequim with help from Dan Goettling of Accurate Angle Crane.