Chicago Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony: When to See It and Where to Go

CHICAGO, IL — Signs that the holiday season has arrived is unique for just about everybody who celebrates the Christmas tradition. For some, it's the day after Thanksgiving, whether it involves Black Friday shopping or not. For others, it's the minute they throw out the Halloween jack o'lanterns and replace them with yuletide lights and tinsel.

For many Chicagoans, however, the official lighting of the city's Christmas is the ceremony that ushers in the season.

This is Chicago's 103rd annivesary tree lighting ceremony, and the second year the event will be at Millennium Park. Since 1966, the city's Christmas tree had been at Daley Plaza (except when it stood at State Street and Wacker Drive in 1982). The move to the park was done so the tree was closer to the ice skating rink, Maggie Daley Park and caroling at Cloud Gate.

Here's what you need to know before attending the 2016 ceremony.

103rd Anniversary Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

When: Festivities begin at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18. The actual lighting is 6:30 p.m.

Where: Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St.

Cost: Free

More Info: Go to the holiday events section of the city's website. Or check out the Millennium Park Facebook page.

Chicago's Christmas Tree, 2016 Edition

This year's Norway spruce tree was donated by the Scholla family of Wauconda. Bill Scholla, who grew up on the city's North Side, nominated his tree. He and his wife, Margie, will help light the tree during the ceremony.

WATCH the cutting of Chicago's 2016 Christmas tree:

Christmas Tree Facts By the Numbers

In the summer and fall, the city — helped by landscaping company BrightView Landscape Development — sifts through tree submissions, looking for that perfect specimen that fits this criteria:

• either be a spruce or fir
• at least 55 feet tall
• within 100 miles of the Loop and able to be easily removed and delivered to Millennium Park

Take a look at a few figures connected with this year's tree.

• 120: Submissions received by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events this year.
• 69: Height in feet of this year's tree.
• 48,375: Amount of multi-colored lights that decorate the tree. The lights are donated and placed by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134.

Other Activities During the Lighting

Performances by the casts of "STOMP," "Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical" and the Chicago Community Chorus.

Also, an appearance by an older, bearded gentleman. He wears a lot of red outfits, lined with white fur (artificial, we hope). Rides around in a sled that's pulled by flying deer. You know who I'm talking about, right? Name's on the tip of my tongue …

Chicago's Christmas tree in Millennium Park will stay lit until early January.

Chicago's 2016 Christmas tree in Millennium Park (photo by Millennium Park | City of Chicago)

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