105th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

Millennium Park will be the epicenter of holiday cheer in Chicago, featuring your favorite seasonal traditions, Chicago’s official Christmas Tree, ice skating, music, exhibitions, a NEW art market and free family fun.

The 105th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Friday, November 16, at 6pm, featuring music, Santa Claus and program emcee Miguel Cervantes, who can now be seen as Alexander Hamilton in the Hamilton Chicago Company currently playing Broadway In Chicago’s CIBC Theatre, as well as fireworks after the lights go on at 6:30pm.

The program will feature music by actress, singer and songwriter Cozi Zuehlsdorff, cast members from Emerald City Theatre’s production of Ken Ludwig’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, and performances by musicians from the Grant Park Music Festival, followed by a special appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The City of Chicago’s 105th Christmas Tree is a 60-foot Norway Spruce from Elmhurst, Illinois, donated by Deborah Orth and her family. The Tree, selected out of 79 tree nominations, will shine in Chicago’s iconic Millennium Park (Washington St. and Michigan Ave.) from November 16 through January 6, 2019. The lights adorning the Tree are being donated by IBEW Local 134 and the decor at its base is provided by the Millennium Park Foundation.

NEW this year, the Millennium Park Art Market, in partnership with School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago and After School Matters, will feature one-of-a-kind items, including jewelry, fashion, painting, sculpture, prints, and drawings on sale by more than 150 student artists. Part of the City of Chicago’s Year of Creative Youth, the Holiday Art Market is supported by the Millennium Park Foundation. The market has free admission and will run November 16-18, 11am-7pm in a heated tent on the Chase Promenade North.

The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink at Millennium Park will also open earlier in the day on Friday, November 16, at noon, with skating continuing through Mid-March 2019.

For more information about holiday programming at Millennium Park, click here to read the full press release.

Source:  Alderman Reilly Reports 11/9/18