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.
But a white fir is still a white fir. Add the lights, and nobody’s going to pull out a tape measure.
Christmas Tree Lighting Details
The lighting lands on the same day as Shop Small Saturday, so make a day of it downtown.
📅 Saturday, November 28, 2026
⏰ Entertainment starts at 5 p.m. Tree lighting at 6 p.m.
📍 Historic Nampa Train Depot, 1200 Front Street, Nampa
💲 Free
🔗 [City of Nampa event page]
What Happens to the Tree After Christmas
Nothing goes to waste. After the holidays, the city turns the tree into mulch for Nampa’s parks and trails. So next spring, you might be walking on it.
Got a Giant Evergreen? Nampa Might Want It
Every year, Nampa’s tree comes from a local yard. In 2024, the city even had the removal and stump grinding done free, thanks to Qualitree, a family-owned Nampa company. If you have a huge evergreen you’re tired of raking around, watch for the city’s call for next year’s tree.
FAQ
When is the Nampa Christmas tree lighting in 2026?
Saturday, November 28, 2026. Entertainment starts at 5 p.m., and the tree lights up at 6 p.m.
Where is the Nampa Christmas tree?
In front of the historic Nampa Train Depot at 1200 Front Street in downtown Nampa.
Where did this year’s tree come from?
The Jacobs family donated it. They planted the 38-foot white fir in their Nampa front yard 24 years ago.
What happens to the tree after the holidays?
The city turns it into mulch for Nampa’s parks and trail systems.
Sources:
- Parade: Nampa Christmas tree lighting
- Idaho News 6: Nampa’s 2025 Christmas tree
- KSL: Nampa 60-foot evergreen
- KTVB/Idaho Press: Gramkow tree
- City of Nampa 2024 press release (Qualitree)
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