GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in downtown Grand Rapids!
The city's Christmas tree was installed early Tuesday morning in Rosa Parks Circle, where it will soon be lit by over 50,000 LED lights.
This year, the tree is a 36-foot concolor fir that has a special connection to Grand Rapids.
"We are thrilled with the story behind this year's holiday tree," said Evette Pittman, manager of special events with the City of Grand Rapids. "Our Indian Trails Golf Course had a tree that needed to be harvested. And so we called Rockford Construction, our Christmas elves as we like to call them here in the city, and we had them go take a look at it and they were able to harvest the tree for us. And so the tree this year actually comes from Grand Rapids, Michigan, a native tree."
A truck carrying the massive tree arrived in the city around 5 a.m. Crews worked to shave down the trunk to make sure it would fit into the base. The tree was then lifted into position by a crane.
Pittman said there is plenty to experience downtown during the holidays.
"Christmastime in downtown Grand Rapids is magical," she said. "We have twinkling lights that wind all of our streets, all of our merchants are putting our best foot forward, and they have specials and different things going on."
If you're hoping to see the tree decked out for the holidays, you're in luck! The tree will be lit Saturday, Dec. 7 alongside the annual Santa Parade. The festivities run from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m.