According to the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association (NCCTA), the Christmas tree industry in North Carolina─dominated overwhelmingly by Fraser firs─is ranked number two in the nation in amount harvested and cash receipts and contributes more than 26% of the real Christmas trees produced in the United States. Not only does the traditional tree lighting ceremony celebrate the time of year and bring the campus community together for the holiday, but it’s also a celebration of one of this area’s largest exports: Fraser fir trees. For many Bobcats, the Lees-McRae tradition of displaying a beautiful, lush Christmas tree in the center of campus is the perfect way to ring in the holiday season.
