Media Advisory: Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony Set for Wednesday, December 4

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Join us for the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Wednesday, December 4 at 4:00 p.m. Every year the department displays a Maryland-grown tree outside its headquarters to encourage residents to support our state’s Christmas tree farmers by buying local holiday trees.

This year’s tree is a 14-foot Douglas Fir donated by Simmons’ Christmas Trees in Kent County. Decorations for the tree will include dried gourds painted by the Annapolis High School Art Club and the Annapolis High School National Art Honor Society. Pat and Cindy Hochmuth of Pat’s Produce & Gourds in Wicomico County provided the dried gourds.

Come early to this year’s celebration to enjoy apple desserts, including fresh-baked apple cheese bread, apple walnut brownies, and apple cake, made by the students of the Annapolis High School Culinary Club using local apples from Lohr’s Orchard in Harford County. The recipes for these desserts can be found on the Maryland Apple Promotion Board’s website.

WHAT: Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony                                                     

WHEN: Wednesday, December 4
4:00 p.m. — Department staff and Annapolis High School students/faculty will arrive
4:15 p.m. — Annual lighting of the tree

WHERE: Maryland Department of Agriculture Headquarters
50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401

WHO: Maryland Department of Agriculture staff, the Annapolis High School National Art Honor Society, the Annapolis High School Culinary Club, Annapolis High School culinary and art teachers, and Pat Hochmuth of Pat’s Produce & Gourds.

RSVP: Please confirm attendance by contacting Megan Guilfoyle at 410-841-5889 or megan.guilfoyle@maryland.gov.

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