Chicago Picks Official Christmas Tree For 2017

CHICAGO, IL — A Norway Spruce tree in Grayslake has been chosen as the city's official Christmas tree this year. The tree will go up in Millennium Park for its annual holiday display and Christmas events. City crews will cut down the tree Thursday morning, and deliver it to the park Friday night.

The city chose the Dorfler family's tree out of 71 submissions in its annual Christmas tree contest. The family will help light the tree at the 104th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6 p.m. Nov. 17, near The Bean. Admission to the Tree Lighting Ceremony and all other holiday activities in Millennium Park are free.

The first official Chicago Christmas tree went up in 1913 in Grant Park. In 1966, the official tree was put up in Civic Center Plaza, now known as Daley Plaza, where it continued to go up for nearly 50 years. 2017 will mark the third year the tree will go up in Millennium Park.

Top image: Chicago's 2016 winning tree. Photo credit: Amber Fisher