GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in downtown Grand Rapids! The iconic 40-foot Christmas tree was delivered and installed Tuesday morning despite an onslaught of rain.
The tree comes from Manton, which is just north of Cadillac, and traveled a total of 110 miles to reach its place in Rosa Parks Circle. Soon, it will be decorated and lit up during a ceremony to kick off the holiday season in Grand Rapids.
Workers with Rockford Construction worked to hoist the tree from the truck and guide it into place.
"These guys are amazing, and they've done this for so many years," said Monica Steimle-App, senior vice president with Rockford Construction. "And what goes into it, the planning along with our community partners, to get the tree here...is such an amazing community process and I'm just so grateful these guys are here putting it in."
Nicole Hellstrom has been driving trucks for 15 years. During the holidays, she delivers trees to cities around the nation. Tuesday was her second time delivering the Grand Rapids tree.
The front of her truck had tinsel, lights and a wreath to celebrate the occasion. She said she started decorating because of her nieces, but it quickly became a tradition for delivering the trees.
"(People) get a little baffled until they see what's on the back deck of the trailer," Hellstrom said. "And then they really get into the spirit and enjoy it."
For Hellstrom, driving Christmas trees around the country is about more than making the delivery.
"You can turn somebody's grumpy day into a happy day just by showing up, having your truck nice, having Christmas lights on there," she said. "They get to enjoy it. It's about the joy, spreading the joy."
The tree will be lit up during the annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on Friday, Dec. 1 from 5-7 p.m.
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