111th City of Chicago Christmas Tree is Coming from Logan Square

November 1, 2024

DCASE Communications    dcase@cityofchicago.org

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53-foot Colorado blue spruce was donated by the Holden-Shaddick Family

 

CHICAGO—Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) today announced even more details for 2024 holiday traditions at Millennium Park. New information revealed today includes the local family who donated the 111th Annual City of Chicago Christmas Tree: the Holden family of Logan Square.

Chicago’s Christmas Tree will be displayed inside Millennium Park near the intersection of N. Michigan Avenue and E. Washington Street. This year’s tree will be illuminated on Friday, Nov. 22 at the city’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and fireworks, which will also be broadcast live by CBS Chicago starting at 6pm.

This year’s Tree Lighting Ceremony, presented by Powering Chicago with leadership support from the Millennium Park Foundation and the Pritzker Foundation, will include multiple viewing locations with screens and concessions in the Park. The main stage will be located on Washington St. adjacent to the Chicago Cultural Center, directly across Michigan Ave. from the Chicago Christmas Tree. The main stage will feature holiday performances capped off with the traditional Tree Lighting Ceremony and fireworks.

Other holiday activities in Millennium Park include the return of the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, sponsored by Discover Financial Services®, which opens Friday, November 15, the Millennium Park Holiday Market from Nov. 22–24 and the return of the Millennium Park Holiday Sing-Along series every Friday between Dec. 6 and Dec. 20. The Park is open daily, 8am–9pm. Plan your visit at MillenniumPark.org.

Updated holiday program details for the public are listed below.

This year, holiday traditions return to Millennium Park (201 E. Randolph St.) — made possible by the Millennium Park Foundation with generous support from the Pritzker Foundation. The Park is open daily, 8am–9pm. Plan your visit and review safety guidelines at MillenniumPark.org.

Chicago’s “official” Christmas tree, the 111th Annual City of Chicago Christmas Tree in Millennium Park, will shine brightly near the intersection of Michigan Ave. and Washington St. from November 22 through January 8. This year’s Tree, a 53-foot Colorado Blue Spruce, was donated by the Holden-Shaddick family of Logan Square.

This year’s Tree Lighting Ceremony, presented by Powering Chicago with leadership support from the Millennium Park Foundation and the Pritzker Foundation, will include multiple viewing locations with screens and concessions in the Park. The main stage will be located on Washington St. adjacent to the Chicago Cultural Center, directly across Michigan Ave. from the Chicago Christmas Tree. The main stage will feature holiday performances capped off with the traditional Tree Lighting Ceremony and fireworks. More information about this year’s Tree Lighting Ceremony will be provided soon.

DCASE is pleased to be presenting the Millennium Park Holiday Market, to kick off the holiday shopping season. The Holiday Market in the Chase Promenade North tent will feature more than 30 local artists selling a variety of items including jewelry, art, apparel, home décor, bath/body products and more.

Holiday Market Schedule (subject to change):

  • Friday, November 22 from 12–8pm
  • Saturday, November 23 from 12–8pm
  • Sunday, November 24 from 12–5pm

The Millennium Park Holiday Sing-Along will invite Chicagoans and visitors to sing out and celebrate Chicago’s diverse holiday traditions at 6 p.m. on Fridays between December 6 and December 20. The Holiday Sing-Along takes place at Cloud Gate (The Bean), and is made possible by the Millennium Park Foundation with generous support from the Pritzker Foundation.

Holiday Sing-Along Schedule (subject to change):

  • Friday, December 6 at 6pm: Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center (SRBCC)
  • Friday, December 13 at 6pm: Leo High School
  • Friday, December 20 at 6pm: Chicago Chamber Choir

The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, sponsored by Discover Financial Services®, opens Friday, November 15 and will remain open through February 2 (weather permitting). Admission to the ice rink is free, but reservations are required. Skates are available to rent, and snacks and hot drinks will be available from Momentum Coffee and Millennium Hall next to the rink. This year, free skating lessons will be available, made possible by the McDonald’s Active Lifestyles Endowment managed by the Millennium Park Foundation.

 

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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 and Cook County. 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.

 

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.