Chandler's very untraditional holiday tradition is taking shape this week in its downtown, where workers are beginning to assemble a 25-foot-tall tumbleweed tree. Already, the center pole for the tree is in place at Dr. A. J. Chandler Park, just west of Arizona Avenue and south of Chandler Boulevard. A parks crew will then put wire framing up to form a Christmas tree shape that will hold 1,000 to 1,500 tumbleweeds. Early next week, crews will add 20 gallons of flame retardant, 25 gallons of white paint and 65 pounds of glitter. About 1,200 lights will illuminate the tree at night.

Chandler parks crews are building the city’s Tumbleweed Tree for the holiday season in Dr. A.J. Chandler Park.

 Not many people have to worry about snakes during the process of putting up a Christmas tree. William W. Williams, a Chandler parks worker, does.

A huge Christmas tree fashioned out of tumbleweeds is taking shape in Chandler.

December 8, 2004

It’s beginning to look like a tumbleweed tree Christmas.

 Chandler city workers construct a Tumbleweed Christmas tree in downtown Chandler.

What do you get when you combine chicken wire, white paint, dried weeds and lots of fire retardant?

Lights have been carefully strung. Ribbons and ornaments hung with care. And the tumbleweeds placed just so on the 35-foot-high tree-shaped wire frame.

December 3, 2004