Amid chill, Pier 39 Christmas tree removed

Residents and tourists alike will notice that San Francisco’s Pier 39 is a little less merry and bright now that officials have decided to take down its 60-foot Christmas tree and cancel its nightly light show at one of the city’s most famous tourist destinations along Fisherman’s Wharf.

An official from Pier 39 told The Chronicle that the unusually cold weather patterns in the Bay Area are to blame.

“The tree had to be removed as it dried out prematurely due to Northern California’s drought coupled with the gusty winds we had last weekend,” Pier 39 spokesperson Sue Muzzin said in a statement. “The branches and needles were damaged.”

The tree, harvested by Carlton Christmas Trees from Siskiyou County in Northern California, was unveiled Nov. 22 during Pier 39’s annual lighting ceremony. It was scheduled to be the centerpiece of nightly performances through Jan. 8.

“Synchronized to Holiday music, the tree transforms into a kaleidoscope of swirling colors, adorned with thousands of specialty lights and ornaments,” a description read on Pier 39’s website. “These dazzling Tree Lighting Musical Moments will take center stage all season long.”

But nearly two weeks before Christmas Day, officials just didn’t feel it would be safe for visitors who often take selfies by the decorated tree.

A strong low-pressure system with gale-force winds over San Francisco Bay prompted the National Weather Service to issue a small craft and wind advisory for Dec. 10. Nearby weather stations measured sustained 20- to 25-mph winds and gusts that clocked in at 45 mph. These intense winds caused damage to tree limbs and likely stressed the Pier 39 tree over the course of the day.

This is not the first time holiday plans at Pier 39 have been disrupted. In 2018, Everitt Jameson, a tow truck driver from Modesto, was indicted for planning an Islamic State-inspired terror attack over the holidays at the site in the previous year.

According to an FBI affidavit, agents posing as Islamic State representatives met with Jameson, who eventually told them he wanted to attack Pier 39 on Christmas when it would be filled with tourists.