Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

The Daley Plaza Christmas Tree Will Be a 57-Foot Spruce from Elgin

By Tanveer Ali | November 5, 2014 5:49am
  This year's Daley Plaza Christmas tree will be a 57-foot Colorado blue spruce from Elgin, city officials announced Wednesday.
Daley Plaza Christmas Tree
View Full Caption

CHICAGO — This year's Daley Plaza Christmas tree will be a 57-foot Colorado blue spruce from Elgin, city officials announced Wednesday.

The tree, submitted for consideration by the Atkinson family three years in a row, was chosen from a field of 82 trees from throughout the Chicago area this year, according to Mary May, a spokeswoman for the city's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

Twenty of those trees made the shortlist for the city and were inspected by tree experts at The Brickman Group, a landscaping company.

Tanveer Ali went along on one of the tree scouting missions:

Rick Corby, one of those experts, said trees are chosen based on height, size, fullness and ease of transportation.

The Atkinsons' tree will be cut down Thursday morning and be brought to Daley Plaza around 7 p.m. Friday.

It will be the focal point at the city's 101st annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 25.

The event starts at 4:30 p.m. and features the likes of Hansel and Gretel, the Grinch and Dee Snider of Twisted Sister.

Last five years of Daley Plaza Christmas trees:

• 2009: For the first time since 1955, the city selected a single tree to be displayed in Daley Plaza. The tree came from Palos Heights.

• 2010: The city held its first tree contest and selected a 70-foot spruce from McHenry as the winner.

• 2011: A 55-foot Colorado spruce from Western Springs won the contest.

• 2012: There was no contest this year, as the city selected a tree from Prospect Heights.

• 2013: "Lucy," a 57-foot Colorado blue spruce from South Holland, won the city's contest and was displayed in Daley Plaza.

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: