MEDFORD, Ore. (Oct. 16, 2026) — A new tree has taken root in downtown Medford’s Pear Blossom Park ahead of this year’s Winter Lights Festival, replacing a longtime centerpiece of the annual holiday celebration that was removed earlier this year due to declining health.
On Thursday, Oct. 15, a 35-foot Deodar cedar was relocated from the intersection of Barnett Road and Highland Drive to Pear Blossom Park. The tree had been scheduled for removal as part of an upcoming Oregon Department of Transportation project.
The cedar replaces a 45-foot Norway spruce that had served as a centerpiece of the Winter Lights Festival since 2013. The Medford city arborist removed the spruce in August after its health deteriorated.
According to city officials, heat stress and repeated vandalism involving the tree’s irrigation system contributed to its declining condition.
The Medford Parks and Recreation Department coordinated the relocation with contractor Big Trees Today, which used specialized equipment known as a tree spade to excavate the cedar and transport it to its new home in the downtown park.
The operation also involved assistance from the Medford Police Department, which provided traffic control during the move, and Medford Public Works, which helped crews navigate traffic signal clearances along the transportation route.
The relocation allows the cedar to be preserved rather than removed as part of the planned transportation project, while providing a replacement for the park’s former holiday tree.
Medford Parks and Recreation crews will continue monitoring and caring for the newly transplanted cedar over the coming months as it adjusts to its new surroundings and establishes its root system.
The tree is expected to serve as a new centerpiece for the city’s annual Winter Lights Festival, continuing a downtown Medford holiday tradition.
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