CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicago is getting ready to decorate for the holidays. City crews cut down the official Christmas tree Friday morning in Logan Square.
Noemi and Mario Benavides offered their tree again after it wasn’t picked last year, and continued to sway on windy days next to their home in the 2400 block of North Maplewood Avenue in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood.
"It's an honor. It needs to be cutdown because it's outgrown the neighborhood," Noemi Benavides said.
A chainsaw made quick work of the 51-foot blue spruce that had been sitting in the Benavides' side yard for 34 years.
"It was about three feet [tall] when we first moved here, and I used to decorate it. When it reached 20 feet, that's all I could do. It got too high for me," Mario Benavides said.
The decorating now falls on the City of Chicago; and a technician who counted the rings on the stump believes it was 46-years old.
After loading the tree onto a flatbed truck with a crane and removing some of the many pine cones from the top, the tree will be installed in Millennium Park on Monday; and officially unveiled during a lighting ceremony on Friday, Nov. 19.
"It will go to the tree spot and we will get it ready on Monday when it will arrive in Millennium Park," said Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Nancy Villafranca.
The Benavides Family said goodbye to the tree as it was hauled away, saying "see you on the 19th." They will get to be apart of the Tree Lighting Ceremony.
Chicago’s “official” Christmas tree, the 108th Annual City of Chicago Christmas Tree in Millennium Park, will shine brightly near the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Washington Street from Friday, Nov. 19 through Sunday, Jan. 9.
This year’s Tree Lighting Ceremony will be in-person on Friday, Nov. 19 starting at 6 p.m., with the actual lighting at approximately 6:30 p.m. According to city officials, the 2021 event has been expanded and reimagined to provide more space and opportunities for guests to participate — including multiple viewing locations with screens and concessions across the Park and a main stage on the Great Lawn with the traditional Tree Lighting Ceremony followed by fireworks and a special concert from 6:35 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., headlined by singer-songwriter Brian McKnight.
Tree Lighting Ceremony Schedule (subject to change):
• 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Preshow with DJ Selah Say
• 6 p.m.: Tree Lighting Ceremony featuring Mariachi Herencia de Mexico, the cast of Chicago Opera Company performing an excerpt from “Becoming Santa Claus;” a youth dance ensemble from the Kenwood School of Ballet; and special guests Dreezy Claus and Sister Claus
• 6:30 p.m.: Fireworks
• 6:35 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.: Concert featuring DJ Selah Say; Cirque du Soleil performing an excerpt of ‘Twas the Night Before…;” Chicago Soul Spectacular performing a high-energy Soul Christmas medley; and singer-songwriter Brian McKnight
Other holiday activities in Millennium Park include the 20th anniversary season of skating at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink also opening Friday, Nov. 19 (weather permitting); the return of the Millennium Park Art Market from Nov. 19–21; and the new Millennium Park Holiday Sing-Along (previously “Caroling at Cloud Gate”) on Fridays, Nov. 26 through Dec. 17 and Sunday, Dec. 12.
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