When Chicago's 2017 Christmas tree is lit up later this month, it will mean more than just the start of the holiday season in the city.
The 62-foot-tall spruce tree from suburban Grayslake was a favorite of donor Darlene Dorfler's late husband, who she said always dreamed of seeing the tree lit up for the holidays.
The Dorflers decided to submit the tree for consideration this year in his honor, and it was picked out of 71 applications.
But it was the moment they learned the date of the tree lighting ceremony that really hit home for the family.
"I thought, 'Oh my gosh that's our wedding anniversary.' It would have been 55 years that we'd been married," Darlene Dorfler said. "So a very special date."
"It's all kind of his idea and his legacy," she added.
The tree will be cut down on Thursday and delivered to Millennium Park on Friday evening, the city announced.
It will be lit for the first time at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 17 in a ceremony that will be free and open to the public.
