Chicago lights up the tree in Millennium Park to kick off the holidays
CHICAGO (CBS) – Millennium Park was bathed in the glow of 50,000 lights Friday evening for the 110th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, and CBS 2 proudly led the festivities.
People gathered for the big countdown Friday afternoon to light up the 45-foot tree full of holiday spirit. The Colorado blue spruce came courtesy of a donation by the De La Cruz family in southwest suburban Darien.
"We are very excited. Very, very excited," said Efren De La Cruz.
"It's just almost a reflection back into our own story – like how my parents came her; the decisions they made; the path leading up to this moment," said Abby De La Cruz.
As CBS 2's Darius Johnson reported Friday night, bringing a city like Chicago to life for the holidays is a tall task – as tall as the Willis Tower or the former John Hancock Center, or even the De La Cruz family's tree. But as is the case every year, Chicago was up to the task.
The city showed out for the tree-lighting, possibly bringing thousands to see it come to life just in time for the holiday season.
'Tis the season to lace up your skates, get on the ice, and feel the holiday spirit like Dan Metzger and his stepson, who hit the rink on the warm November Friday. The pair were visiting from Iowa. They said their goal was "to just be good and not fall."
"It'll make some memories, that's for sure," they said.
Steps away, those on dry land were able to get a head start on their holiday shopping in Chicago style. The Wicker Park staff from Pink Monster set up a booth for their local shop inside the Holiday Art Market.
"It shows how artistic Chicagoans are and how crafty we are, and not just that, but we're very into supporting small businesses," said the staff.
The cast of "Boop! The Betty Boop Musical" performed their rendition of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" for the crowd, as well as Megan McNeal, a finalist on The Voice, and Chicago Dance Crash.
Millennium Park was bathed in the glow of 50,000 lights Friday evening for the 110th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, and CBS 2 proudly led the festivities.
People gathered for the big countdown Friday afternoon to light up the 45-foot tree full of holiday spirit. The Colorado blue spruce came courtesy of a donation by the De La Cruz family in southwest suburban Darien.
"We are very excited. Very, very excited," said Efren De La Cruz.
"It's just almost a reflection back into our own story – like how my parents came her; the decisions they made; the path leading up to this moment," said Abby De La Cruz.
As CBS 2's Darius Johnson reported Friday night, bringing a city like Chicago to life for the holidays is a tall task – as tall as the Willis Tower or the former John Hancock Center, or even the De La Cruz family's tree. But as is the case every year, Chicago was up to the task.
The city showed out for the tree-lighting, possibly bringing thousands to see it come to life just in time for the holiday season.
'Tis the season to lace up your skates, get on the ice, and feel the holiday spirit like Dan Metzger and his stepson, who hit the rink on the warm November Friday. The pair were visiting from Iowa. They said their goal was "to just be good and not fall."
"It'll make some memories, that's for sure," they said.
Steps away, those on dry land were able to get a head start on their holiday shopping in Chicago style. The Wicker Park staff from Pink Monster set up a booth for their local shop inside the Holiday Art Market.
"It shows how artistic Chicagoans are and how crafty we are, and not just that, but we're very into supporting small businesses," said the staff.
The cast of "Boop! The Betty Boop Musical" performed their rendition of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" for the crowd, as well as Megan McNeal, a finalist on The Voice, and Chicago Dance Crash.
Blocks away from Millennium Park, you might say, "Frohe Weihnachten!" in what evokes Black Forest in Germany – but is actually in familiar old Daley Plaza.
"Black Forest is in southwest Germany - and that's where all those cuckoo clocks come from," said Lennart Wendler, who was manning the Fehrenbach Black Forest Clocks stand at Christkindlmarket.
And Wendler knows all about cuckoo clocks and German Christmas traditions, even if it is his first time working Chicago's holiday market.
"The story it tells - it's a bit funny," he said as he showed off the animated figurines on one clock. "The Bavarian tradition to kiss the girl through the window, and the dad."
The dad does not approve, and is wielding a pitchfork in the display.
"It's just cool," Wendler said.
It's as cool as those he met at the Christkindlmarket - or Weihnachtsmarkt, as he calls it, being German himself.
"I love talking to the people, because, you know, Americans are different than German people," Wendler said, "and it's just cool to tell them about your traditions."
It is a time of many traditions that can bring a smile to many faces all around the world.
The clocks, ornaments, candles, cuisine, and other delights of Christkindlmarket will be in Daley Plaza until Dec. 24. However, the tree and lights in Millennium Park will remain illuminated until the New Year.
So while it may not feel like it yet, the holiday season is finally here.
