When it comes to Christmas trees, there are two camps and the Christmas City may be about to make a switch.

Long in the real-Christmas-tree camp, Bethlehem is considering ditching its live-tree tradition and purchasing a 40-foot artificial one for Payrow Plaza.

Bethlehem annually hunts down a 40-foot-plus evergreen and cuts it down from a citizen's yard. The tree gets a police escort to city hall where cranes help to erect it in the plaza.

Then a Black Friday tree lighting kicks off the holiday season, culminating with a visit from Santa Claus on a firetruck.

City officials floated the idea in the proposed five-year capital plan, which city council will adopt as part of the 2019 budget process. The plan includes a $90,000 earmark for a faux 40-foot tree, potentially funded out of the real estate transfer tax proceeds from the sale of the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.

"It is getting harder and harder to find one," said Michael Alkhal, city director of public works. "...It has to be within a reasonable distance because it is a tall order to transport it here."

For about 20 years, Bethlehem asked residents to donate a tree in the 40-foot to 50-foot range to be the city's official Christmas tree, Alkhal said.

Fewer people are answering that call, sometimes leaving city staff driving around on the hunt for the perfect one.

Artificial trees have come a long way and look much more realistic these days, Alkhal said. And the city's gotten a taste of the ease of the faux Christmas tree as the trees hung on city light posts have transitioned to all artificial ones.

The Citizens Christmas City Committee piloted the pre-strung LED fake trees in 2015. Bethlehem opted to expand them after receiving no negative feedback because they save on electricity and installation costs, Alkhal said. It is also better for the environment.

The city has already found its 2018 tree. But this could be the last year for the live tree.

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.