Chicago officials are gearing up to deck the halls for the holiday season, announcing today that they're on the hunt for the city's "official" Christmas tree. Yes, we're talking about the one that's strewn with lights and displayed in Millennium Park for all to see.
Nominations for the prestigious honor are being accepted through Friday, October 23 via email. Of course, the city isn't looking for just any old tree—there are a few requirements for the 107th Chicago Christmas evergreen.
For starters, all nominees must be at least 45 feet tall and located within 50 miles of the Loop, though preferential treatment is given to trees within 15 miles of the city center. That's about as far north as Evanston, out to Hillside to the west and Calumet Heights to the south. The city also notes that it'd prefer a Norway spruce or fir tree and that pine trees are ineligible (apparently they're not sturdy enough—who knew).
If you've got a tree in mind, you can submit it to dcase@cityofchicago.org with the owner's name, address, phone number and email; at least two photographs; and a short writeup on why it's the perfect candidate. May the best spruce win!
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