Although Thanksgiving has barely come and gone, the Christmas season has been in full swing in Millennium Park in the heart of Chicago. In fact, preparation for a specific Christmas tradition started in October, when BrightView began the hunt for Chicago's 105th Christmas tree. The right tree for the annual Christmas celebration must fit within some strict specifications: it must be a spruce or a fir tree, it has to be at least 55 feet tall, it must be easy to remove when Christmas is over, and it has to be located within 100 miles of Chicago.

The winning tree this year is a 60-foot, 8,400-pound, 48-year-old Northern Spruce donated to the city by the Orth family. The tree was cut, transported from its original home in Elmhurst to Millennium Park, crane lifted into place, and decorated. On November 16, the Orth family, joined by Santa and other guests, flipped the switch to light the tree in the 105th Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration in Chicago, officially kicking off the Christmas season for the city.

BrightView has been assisting with the Chicago Christmas tree selection and transportation process for nine years.