Logan Square spruce chosen as official Chicago Christmas tree to light up Millennium Park

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Christmas is 54 days away, but Chicago wasted no time finding the perfect tree to go up in Millennium Park for the holiday season.

This year's tree is coming from Logan Square, donated by the Holden family, and its roots dig deep into this community.

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For 50 years, this 53-foot Colorado Blue Spruce, located on the 2500-block of North Kimball, has sprouted right alongside Gerrie Mulligan.

"It's like it grew with us," Gerrie said. "It was always part of me and my brother and the games we would play out here with all the neighborhood kids."

The tree was first planted by her father, Jim Mulligan, next to his historic Logan Square home.

Like the tree, Gerrie said, her father's personality was larger than life.

"My dad was just everybody's hero. My dad - people joked and called him the mayor of Logan Square," Gerrie said. "My dad went out of his way to take care of things, to make sure the neighborhood was nice."

Sadly, Gerrie said, her father passed away in 2022.

Before his death, Sarah Holden and her young family moved into Jim's home and learned more about the towering impact he made on Logan Square.

"In the way he's impacted this neighborhood, we're also putting him in the history books, as well," Sarah said.

Sarah wrote a letter to the city, encouraging them to use the Colorado Blue Spruce Jim first planted half a century ago as the annual Chicago Christmas Tree.

To her surprise, Jim's tree made the cut.

"Seeing it downtown and being in front of all those people, very surprised and very excited. I think over the coming weeks, it will sink in a bit more," Sarah said.

For Gerrie, this is the perfect way to honor the life and love that his father first planted right in this Northwest Side neighborhood.

It is a sentiment shared by Jim's only granddaughter, Chloe Torres.

"Just everyone gathering here to see this happen explains it," Chloe said.

"I just can feel his presence with us. It just means a lot. It really does," Gerrie said.

Back in Logan Square, city officials have been working to plant a dozen new trees in this community to replace the Christmas tree taken down Friday.

The tree will arrive in the park on Monday, where it will be decorated and serve as the city's 111th official Christmas Tree.

It will be set up in Millennium Park near the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Washington Street.

The tree will be lit up on Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. and will remain illuminated through Jan. 8.

But many Chicagoans are not waiting that long to start celebrating.

Home Depot's South Loop store is holiday-ready for those who want to get a jump on their Christmas shopping.

Even before some people start thinking about the Christmas holiday, girl dad Chester Jones is getting into the spirit.

"My boss, a 4-year-old named Zourri, it's her favorite time of the year, so this year we're going to bring her in and let her select a lot of what we'll purchase," Jones said.

Just a day after Halloween, Jones started shopping for holiday decorations.

"We're super excited. Christmas is a big part of our store," said Home Depot South Loop Store Manager Courtney Mireles.

Home Depot's South Loop store is holiday-ready for those who want to get a jump on their Christmas shopping.

There will be live trees there in the next few weeks.

Right now, they have artificial trees, lights and ornaments along with traditional decorations and other specialty items like the man himself: Santa.

There may not be any snow on the ground, but that doesn't mean people are getting into the season of giving.

Simelen Robinson and his friend, Jake Vanetti, took in the start of the holiday sights along State Street.

The famous Macy's holiday windows will be unveiled Saturday, and the great tree has already been decorated, even though Thanksgiving has not been celebrated yet.

"I think both are great times to be with family and stuff, so that's what I'm looking forward to," Vanetti said.

Some are looking forward to this year's Winterland at Gallagher Way which returns Dec. 6.

"I haven't decorated. I'm just waiting for Thanksgiving so I can eat," said Chicagoan Whitney Monae.

And then there's the popular Christkindlmarket. The authentic traditional holiday market returns to Daley Plaza in a few weeks.

It is not soon enough for Mary Bonds, who is already all about the Christmas cheer.

"And Merry Christmas, and to all a good night," Bonds said.