Nova Scotia's annual ritual of giving Boston a Christmas tree began Wednesday near Trenton.

The 13.7-metre tree was&nbsp;cut down with a chainsaw&nbsp;on the&nbsp;property of donors&nbsp;Desmond Waithe and Corina Saunders.

Children from Pictou Landing First Nation and Frank H. MacDonald Elementary School performed for the crowd during the festivities.

But the event was not without its hiccups&nbsp;as heavy rain on Tuesday made for mucky conditions. The crane that was to hoist the tree onto a truck briefly got stuck.

The <a href="https://twitter.com/TreeforBoston?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TreeforBoston</a> is coming down today. But first... some problems... <a href="https://t.co/uIOWKst4dQ">pic.twitter.com/uIOWKst4dQ</a>

An official send-off for&nbsp;the tree will be held in downtown&nbsp;Halifax on Friday. It will also make an appearance in a holiday parade in Halifax on&nbsp;Saturday.

, will then make the&nbsp;1,100-kilometre&nbsp;journey to Massachusetts, where about 6,000 lights will be added to its branches.

The tree was cut as a crowd, which included children from Pictou Landing First Nation and Frank H. MacDonald Elementary School, looked on.

Tree for Boston cut

The&nbsp;tree is a gift meant to show the province's gratitude for the help Bostonians provided after the Halifax Explosion on Dec. 6, 1917.

The tree is a gift meant to show Nova Scotia's gratitude for the help Bostonians provided after the devastating Halifax Explosion on Dec. 6, 1917.

Tree for Boston boy

Tories clear 'hurdle' in quest to get access to Bay Ferries management fee

The court challenge by Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservative Party to learn the management fee paid to the operator of the Yarmouth ferry will sail on.

A blue and white ship emblazoned with the words "the cat" along the side.

LaFosse, who was involved in the provincial PC Party's court case seeking details on the Yarmouth ferry management fee, says the FOIPOP system needs to be overhauled.

CAT Ferry

The Progressive Conservatives are taking the government to court in an effort to have the management fee paid to the operator of the Yarmouth-to-Maine ferry made public.

Liberal MLA says conviction for impaired driving won't cost taxpayers

Hugh MacKay says the year-long suspension of driver's licence will not cost taxpayers extra, nor will it get in the way of his constituency work.

Hugh MacKay

Liberal MLA Hugh MacKay says his conviction for drunk driving won't cost taxpayers extra and won't get in the way of duties.

P.E.I. man sentenced by N.S. judge for sex offences against girl

A Nova Scotia judge has sentenced Jason Thomas Fisher, 36, to two years in prison and three years of probation for sex offences involving a six-year-old girl.

The Halifax Law Courts, Halifax NS, 2017 

Halifax Law Courts 

Jason Thomas Fisher, 36, was sentenced Wednesday in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Halifax for sex offences involving a six-year-old girl.

Vessel shortage forces Canada to scrap key climate change research mission

Fisheries and Oceans Canada was forced this fall to cancel a core oceanographic survey to monitor climate change because it could not find a ship capable of handling ocean conditions in the North Atlantic.

Hudson ship docking

The 56-year-old Hudson normally carries out offshore Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program surveys, but Canadian coast guard science ship was unavailable this year because a vessel life extension refit had to be extended.

Lantz residents seek answers on bridge closure

The closure of a bridge in Lantz, N.S., has residents facing a detour and wondering what's next. Hydes Bridge, a one-lane bridge on Highway 277 that spans the Shubenacadie River, was closed on Friday.

Lantz residents seeking answers on bridge closure Image 1

Hydes Bridge in Lantz is closed until further notice.

The tree was cut down near Trenton, N.S., on Wednesday and will now make the 1,100-kilometre journey to Massachusetts.

Massive Christmas tree destined for Boston cut down near Trenton

More Stories Like This