Milwaukee's 40-foot tree cut, moved to Deer District

Milwaukee’s official 40-foot Christmas tree, a Colorado blue spruce, has been harvested from a northwest side neighborhood and arrived at the Deer District on Thursday, where it will become the centerpiece of the city’s holiday celebrations. Crews from the Milwaukee Department of Public Works cut down the tree Thursday morning at a home on Mill Street, near 118th Street, in the Park Knoll neighborhood.

The tree was donated by Joanne and Al Sunn, who planted it in their yard decades ago. “It’s been there for 30 years,” Joanne Sunn said. Sunn stated that the tree had been a present from a relative initially, and the family had adorned it annually as it matured. “My uncle came one day with the tree and said, ‘Here, you can plant this in your yard,'” Sunn said. “And then we proceeded to do that and decorate it every single year. And now it’s got a little big for this spot, so we thought it might be a good idea to try and donate it, and we were selected this year.” The city commenced its yearly quest for a Christmas tree in September, looking for a specimen that satisfied its standards for height, form, density, and ease of access. Sunn feels her family’s tree was the ideal match. “It kind of fit the bill, and I think it’s the most beautiful Christmas tree ever,” she said.

Milwaukee's official Christmas tree cut down, placed in Deer District

Tree Transport and Officials on Scene

After the tree was cut on Thursday, it was prepared for its journey to its new location near Fiserv Forum, with an escort from the Milwaukee Police Department. The intended path guided the 40-foot spruce down Mill Road and Fond du Lac Avenue, then south on 35th Street and east on North Avenue. From that point, the parade moved along Fond du Lac and McKinley avenues before traveling south on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The final segment follows State Street and Vel R. Phillips Avenue before arriving at the Deer District. Mayor Cavalier Johnson was present with city officials, DPW Forestry crews, Milwaukee Bucks representatives, and the homeowners for the traditional tree removal.

A Special Celebration

Johnson said this year’s celebration carries special significance following the Milwaukee Brewers’ first World Series championship. “You only get a Christmas tree, a city Christmas tree, in the same year the Brewers win the World Series one time,” Johnson said. “Well, maybe more than one time when they win the next one, but this is the first one. So that makes it extra, extra special.” Johnson said the event will bring people together from well beyond Milwaukee. “The whole city, not just the whole city, the whole region and folks from all across the state coming down to celebrate this,” Johnson said. “This is going to be one for the history books, and we’re super excited about it.”

Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony

Decorations will be added to the tree in anticipation of the city’s yearly Christmas tree lighting event on Friday, Nov. 20, at Fiserv Forum in the Deer District. This year’s event signifies Milwaukee’s 113th annual Christmas tree lighting, which is recognized as one of the country’s most enduring official municipal Christmas tree customs, surpassed only by New York City’s, as reported by city officials.