Workers were busy Tuesday installing a Christmas tree in front of the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse on Greensboro Avenue.
This tree is different than the ones the county has displayed in years past: It’s artificial.
In preceding years, Tuscaloosa County has used live 40-foot evergreens donated by area farmers for the holiday season. But last month, the Tuscaloosa County Commission approved purchasing an artificial tree for $16,785 based on a low bid from Wintergreen Corp. The price includes shipping for the artificial tree, which weighs more than a ton.
The tree also comes with 2,000 LED lights.
The artificial tree can be installed faster and with fewer resources, The switch is expected to save the county money in man-hours and equipment rentals.
The 26-foot tree will have an official lighting ceremony at 5:15 p.m. Dec. 13 before the 44th annual West Alabama Christmas Parade.
The parade, which will begin at 6:30 p.m., will also serve as the final event of the city’s bicentennial celebration.
The grand marshals for the parade will be the three co-chairs of the Tuscaloosa 200 Bicentennial Commission: former Tuscaloosa City Council President Harrison Taylor, Tim Parker Jr. of Parker Towing, and Cathy Randall, a scholar, businesswoman and philanthropist.
