The City of Chicago gets ready for the holidays early and announces the dates for the 98th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.
The Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is an anticipated family tradition. Festive holiday music begins  and the holiday season in Chicago officially commences at 12:00 pm, when the switch is flipped and the lights begin to sparkle and shine in Daley Plaza. Chicago's massive 90 foot tall holiday tree is comprised of more than 130 smaller Balsam Fir trees illuminated with thousands of lights and hundreds of ornaments. The tradition of an official City tree was initiated back in 1913 was first lit by Mayor Carter H. Harrison in Grant Park.