Glenn Highway Christmas Tree

Winters in Alaska can be brutally cold and dark, especially around the holidays. The darkest part of the year is between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is therefore no surprise that we appreciate Christmas lights and any kind of illumination that lights up the darkness.

This painting is based on the Glenn Highway Christmas Tree, another annual Christmas tradition. Near the Old Glenn Highway exit, just before the Knik River bridge,  a tree is decorated with Christmas lights every year and then lit on Thanksgiving. A tradition dating back over two decades, it’s a gesture that brings a bit of holiday cheer to all those thousands that commute between the Valley and Anchorage during the darkest months of the year.

I’ve been wanting to paint this scene for several years but I’ve struggled with finding the perfect angle. Also, as a bit of a throwback to how this tradition started, my version of this scene features an old tree similar to what used to be decorated before it died and had to be cut down.

For those interested in keeping up with the Glenn Highway Christmas Tree, check out the dedicated Facebook group here.