(CBS DETROIT) – Downtown Detroit is about to get a lot brighter, just in time for the Christmas season.
“The countdown is officially here at Campus Martius Park,” said Laura Dean, director of Parks and Public Spaces at Downtown Detroit Partnership.
It’s almost the most wonderful time of year for Detroit, especially with a 65-foot tree. It made its way to Motown via the town of Manton, Michigan.
“We found it in August and yesterday we cut it down on private property and it was donated to us to serve as a centerpiece this year,” Dean said.
The Norway spruce sits high and is visible to everyone. A process will begin in the next two weeks to get everything in order. To achieve this, 10 people are needed.
“Twenty-five thousand LED lights burning here, and twinkling lights lighting up,” Dean said. “We start packing our trees in late August and it won’t be until about tree lightning day before everything is done.”
The city is getting ready, from Cadillac Square to the ice rink. But this year, the Downtown Detroit Partnership is adding a new attraction called Chalet 313 to the park.
“There will be a bar and light snacks will be served. You can basically go into the building, go up and then look up at the tree,” Dean said.
An estimated 100,000 people will show up for the tree lighting.
CBS News Detroit has learned the tree has a few bare spots, so crews will climb it to fill in the gaps before it’s time.
“These are cut from the bottom of a tree and just help fill in where we might not look so good,” Dean said.
The 21st tree lighting will take place on November 22 in the heart of Downtown Detroit at Campus Martius Park.
Terell Bailey
