Chicago 2010 Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Daley Plaza

If you never tire of watching a Christmas tree light up for the first time, you’ll want to be on hand for the lighting of Chicago’s largest Christmas tree on Wednesday, November 24, at the 97^th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Musical performances and festive holiday music will start the ceremony at 4:30 pm.  Then, at 5:00 pm, the switch will be flipped, and the tree’s lights will set Daley Plaza aglow as the holiday season officially commences.

As in past years, the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place at Daley Plaza.

For the first time, Chicago held a contest this year to select the Christmas tree.  Seventy-five trees from Chicago, Illinois, and Indiana were submitted for consideration.  The winning tree, a 70 foot fir tree, was donated by the John Colomer family of McHenry, Illinois. The tree, weighing in at 11,900 lbs., is decorated with 7,000 red, green, and white lights provided by UL Underwriters Laboratories,and topped with a brightly lit star.

Also beginning at Daley Plaza Wednesday evening is Christkindlmarket, the German open-air Christmas market based on one in Nuremberg, Germany.  Here you’ll find beautiful, handcrafted Chrismas ornaments and other items made by German artisans as well as authentic German food.  Most of the companies represented and the people working at the market are from Germany, and their products are authentically German.

Date:  Nov 24, 2010

Hours:  Music begins @ 4:30 pm; tree will be lit @ 5 pm

Location:  Daley Plaza, Washington St. &

Dearborn St., Chicago