Forestry Division Seeking Pittsburgh City Hall’s 113th Christmas Tree

Published on July 21, 2026

Christmas Tree on Light Up Night on the City-County Portico. Red and green lighting above front archways.

Pittsburgh, PA – Christmas in July? Yes! With just about five months to go before the Downtown holiday season, the Department of Public Works’ Forestry Division is launching its annual search for the City of Pittsburgh official Christmas Tree for 2026.

Each year, the Christmas tree that stands on the portico of the City-County Building is sourced locally from residents who submit their tree to Forestry for consideration. Members of the public are encouraged to submit suitable evergreens of any variety that are a minimum of 40 feet tall.

Forestry encourages the public to submit overgrown or endangered trees, as every effort is made not to disturb healthy trees. Consent from the property owner is required and the City will remove, secure, transport and put the tree up at City Hall in mid-November.

Preference for the selected tree is given to those located within the City of Pittsburgh, but others from Allegheny County are considered. Following the 2026 holiday season, the official tree is recycled into mulch that’s used in the City’s parks system.

The owners of the selected tree will be invited to join Mayor Corey O’Connor and City officials for the spectacular tree lighting ceremony hosted by CitiParks Office of Special Events. The ceremony will take place during the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnerships' annual Light Up Night celebrations on Saturday, November 21, 2026.

The erection of Pittsburgh's official Christmas Tree - Downtown's only live outdoor tree - remains one of the Golden Triangle's oldest holiday traditions. A fundraising campaign led by Councilman Robert Garland saw the first City Christmas Tree in 1913. Henry Clay Frick authorized the use of then-empty property at Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue for the festivities.

The tradition moved to its current home in 1914 when workers put up the City's second Christmas Tree on the construction site of the City-County Building.

Individuals interested in donating a tree from their property to be shared with all the people of Pittsburgh may contact the Department of Public Works Forestry Division at 412-665-3625.

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Molly Onufer
Press Secretary
molly.onufer@pittsburghpa.gov