Washington bound Before it stands at the U.S. Capitol, a 67-foot Christmas tree from Wyoming is making a few guest appearances in the Cowboy State. On Sunday, the official 2010 Capitol Christmas Tree makes a stop in Cody, where Park County residents will celebrate its arrival with holiday-themed festivities.This is the first year Wyoming has contributed the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.

“We have the opportunity to showcase Wyoming — the beauty of the land, the richness of our cultures and the talents and generosity of her people,” said Sen. John Barrasso in a news release.

In 2007, Barrasso requested that Wyoming provide the Capitol Christmas Tree, and an Englemann spruce — towering about six stories high — was harvested from the Bridger-Teton National Forest this fall. The theme of this year's tree is “Wyoming — Forever West.”

The tree began its three-week cross-country tour Wednesday, making its first stop in Afton. The tree will travel to nearly 15 cities and towns in the Cowboy State before it journeys to Washington, D.C. On the 3,000-mile trip, the tree will be accompanied by a caravan of a dozen vehicles, including two semi-trucks.

On Sunday afternoon around 3 p.m., the motorcade will arrive in Cody, where the tree will be on display near the Irma Hotel.

To celebrate the Capitol Christmas Tree's stop in Park County, the city of Cody, downtown merchants and the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce organized an afternoon of festive activities, including ornament making, a choir performance, hayrides around the downtown area, cookie decorating and a visit from Smokey Bear.

Beginning at 3:30 p.m., local dignitaries will speak, including Shoshone National Forest Supervisor Joe Alexander, Cody Mayor Nancy Tia Brown and State Representative-elect Sam Krone.

Wyoming songwriter Brian Ragsdale also will perform. Ragsdale composed an anthem for the tree titled “Cowboy Christmas Tree.”

“We have a whole slew of events going on,” said Kim Richard, a marketing representative with the Irma Hotel. “A lot of the activities are family-oriented.”

The Forest Service also will sell permits for Christmas trees at the event, she added.

Dozens of Christmas trees from Wyoming are headed to Washington, D.C., to accompany the Capitol Christmas Tree.

Last week the Wyoming State Forestry Division cut down 80 pine trees on state land near Elk Mountain in southern Wyoming.

The trees range from 8 feet to 20 feet tall.

On Nov. 17, the Christmas trees will be taken by truck to the nation's capital, where they will be displayed in dozens of offices.

Around 5,000 ornaments — filling a a full-sized semi-truck — will be delivered to Washington, D.C. Wyoming residents made the ornaments, which will decorate the Capitol Christmas Tree.

About 10,000 LED Christmas lights are strung throughout the tree, and it will take more than a week for the U.S. Capitol architect and his team to decorate the 67-foot tree.

Wyoming residents can track the Capitol Christmas Tree on its cross-country trek to Washington, D.C. Pictures, video and daily updates are available at http://capitolchristmastree2010.blogspot.com. Folks also can access information on the tree and its trip across the Cowboy State through the Facebook page, Capitol Christmas Tree 2010, and the website www.capitolchristmastree2010.org.

“It is so exciting that folks across the state of Wyoming will have the opportunity to travel with the tree as it makes its way to Washington, D.C.,” said Mary Cernicek, U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree coordinator, in a release.

A lighting ceremony in front of the Capitol is scheduled for Dec. 7.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)

Traveling past the Tetons, the 67-foot Capitol Christmas Tree, an Engelmann spruce from the Bridger-Teton National Forest, begins its cross-country trek to Washington, D.C. Courtesy photo/David J. Swift