This year’s downtown Christmas tree didn’t come from a tree farm. It came from a Nampa front yard, where it grew for 24 years. And if the city hadn’t said yes, it was getting cut down anyway.
Meet This Year’s Tree
The 2026 Nampa Christmas tree is a 38-foot white fir. It weighs about 5,000 pounds. The Jacobs family planted it 24 years ago and donated it to the city this fall.
The tree arrived on November 6. It now stands in front of the historic Nampa Train Depot at 1200 Front Street. Over the next few weeks, the city’s Parks team will fix it up and decorate it for the big night.
Why the Jacobs Family Gave It Up
Trees grow. Roots grow too. This one got too close to the family’s house, and the roots were becoming a problem.
Nampa city forester Adam Mancini told Idaho News 6 the family had made up their minds. If the city didn’t take the tree this year, they were going to cut it down. So instead of becoming a stump, it’s becoming the centerpiece of downtown Christmas.
A Little Shorter Than Usual
Let’s be honest. At 38 feet, this year’s tree is the compact model. Last year’s tree was close to 60 feet. Another recent tree, a Colorado blue spruce from Jim and Susan Gramkow, stood 54 feet…