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The 109th Annual Christmas Tree will return to Millennium Park as the centerpiece of a full slate of holiday programming

CHICAGO — Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) are looking for the perfect tree to grace Millennium Park and serve as the City’s “official” Christmas tree this holiday season.

Nominations for trees from the Chicagoland area will be accepted at dcase@cityofchicago.org through Friday, October 7. The City of Chicago’s 109th Christmas Tree will once again shine this holiday season in Millennium Park near the intersection of Michigan Ave. and Washington St.

All nominated trees must meet the following criteria:

• Be at least 45 feet or taller;
• Be located less than 50 miles from Chicago’s Loop;
• AND preferably, be a Norway Spruce or Fir Tree. (Pine trees are ineligible as they are not sturdy enough.)

Trees that do not meet these criteria will not be considered.

All submissions sent to dcase@cityofchicago.org will need to include:

• The owner(s) name, address, phone and email;
• A brief description of why the tree should be Chicago’s official Christmas Tree including any background information on the tree that makes it special; and
• At least two photographs (one from afar and one up close).

Chicago’s official Christmas Tree will be illuminated on November 18 at 6pm. The tree will remain illuminated through January 8.

The lighting of the Christmas Tree serves as the centerpiece of the City’s beloved annual holiday traditions in Millennium Park. This year’s festivities will include:

McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park, open starting November 18 until March 5 (weather permitting). Admission to the ice rink will be free but online tickets will be required. Free skating lessons will be available, made possible by the McDonald’s Active Lifestyles Endowment managed by the Millennium Park Foundation. Refer to MillenniumPark.org for hours of operation, lesson details, and to reserve tickets.

Millennium Park Art Market returns November 18 through 20. Located in the Chase Promenade North tent, the Market will feature Chicago-area artists selling jewelry, pottery, drawings and paintings, among other items.

Millennium Park Holiday Sing-Along will be back for four Fridays starting November 25 through December 16. Chicagoans will be able to join their voices with community singers and choruses from around the city.

Millennium Park is open daily, 6am to 11pm. Visit MillenniumPark.org to plan your visit - including where to enter/exit the park and which facilities are open. For information about Millennium Park, visit millenniumpark.org, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@Millennium Park).

Millennium Park holiday programs are produced by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and presented by Powering Chicago IBEW 134/NECA, with support from the Millennium Park Foundation, Millennium Garages and Chicago Transit Authority.

Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) supports artists and cultural organizations, invests in the creative economy, and expands access and participation in the arts throughout Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. As a collaborative cultural presenter, arts funder, and advocate for creative workers, our programs and events serve Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, downtown and in diverse communities across our city — to strengthen and celebrate Chicago. DCASE produces some of the city’s most iconic festivals, markets, events, and exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and in communities across the city — serving a local and global audience of 25 million people. The Department offers cultural grants and resources, manages public art, supports TV and film production and other creative industries, and permits special events throughout Chicago. For details, visit Chicago.gov/DCASE and stay connected via our newsletters and social media. 

Powering Chicago IBEW134/NECA
Powering Chicago brings together the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 134 electricians and the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) of the City of Chicago, Powering Chicago is an electrical industry labor-management partnership (LMCC) that invests in consistently better construction, better careers and better communities within the metro Chicago region.

Millennium Park Foundation
The Millennium Park Foundation, a private, philanthropic nonprofit partner, was created in 1998 to support the City of Chicago’s efforts in the design, construction, and curation of Millennium Park. It is the steward of Millennium Park’s internationally-recognized icons and public features. These include the prestigious Jay Pritzker Pavilion and dramatic BP Pedestrian Bridge, world-renowned Cloud Gate and Lurie Garden, iconic Crown Fountain, and exquisite Boeing Galleries for public art exhibitions. Through its ongoing development initiatives, the Millennium Park Foundation is dedicated to keeping Millennium Park a free, accessible and equitable venue for all Chicagoans today, and for generations to come.

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