Navy Pier Lights First-Ever Christmas Tree, Kicks Off Holiday Festivities

Navy Pier lit its first annual Christmas tree in Polk Bros Park Wednesday evening with a little help from Santa.

The tree-lighting ceremony, began at 6 p.m., and featured live performances from Goodman Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol,” Auditorium Theatre’s “Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz Gospel Messiah,” the Chicago Chamber Choir and an appearance by Santa Claus himself.

On Friday, at 10 a.m., the Fifth Third Bank Winter WonderFest begins and continues through the weekend.

Saturday will see the 8:30 a.m. arrival of the Christmas Tree Ship with a ceremony at 10 a.m. The annual tradition of delivering Christmas trees from Michigan to Chicago is an effort to spread holiday cheer to underserved families throughout the city.

Later in the evening, starting at 5 p.m., the Jingle Jamz concert will bring the Wicker Park Choral Singers to Polk Bros Park for some Christmas caroling.

Jingle Jamz continues each Saturday until Dec. 17 and will feature different choral groups.

Located on Lake Michigan, Navy Pier stretches more than six city blocks and receives more than 8 million guests annually, according to a press release.

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