The Big Picture

The Oatmeal lineage has been felled. Every year, Charlottesville residents vote on what to name the city’s Christmas tree. In 2021, we were all taken by surprise when Oatmeal was deemed the winner—the name derives from “Frosty the Snowman,” with Oatmeal
being a suggested name for the magical snowman. Some loved it, some hated it, but Oatmeal’s pollen reigned supreme the following year, when C’ville’s tree was dubbed Son of Oatmeal. Charlottesville’s Grand Illumination was last Friday, December 1, and many
hoped Oatmeal the Third would carry on the legacy. Alas, with a hearty yippee-ki-yay, Oatmeal the Third was bested—by one vote—by none other than Spruce Willis. Spruce Willis is currently standing tall outside the Ting Pavilion, and is lit with over 20,000 LED lights.