Milwaukee’s official Christmas tree cut down, headed to Deer District
By James Ganley
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MILWAUKEE (WISN) — Milwaukee’s official Christmas tree has been harvested from a northwest side neighborhood, beginning its journey to the Deer District, where it will become the centerpiece of the city’s holiday celebrations.
Crews from the Milwaukee Department of Public Works cut down the 40-foot Colorado blue spruce Thursday morning at a home on Mill Street, near 118th Street, in the Park Knoll neighborhood.
The tree was donated by Joanne and Al Sunn, who planted it in their yard decades ago.
“It’s been there for 30 years,” Joanne Sunn said.
Sunn said the tree was originally a gift from a family member, and the couple decorated it every Christmas as it grew.
“My uncle came one day with the tree and said, ‘Here, you can plant this in your yard,'” Sunn said. “And then we proceeded to do that and decorate it every single year. And now it’s got a little big for this spot, so we thought it might be a good idea to try and donate it, and we were selected this year.”
The city launched its annual search for a Christmas tree in September, seeking a tree that met its requirements for size, shape, fullness and accessibility.
Sunn believes her family’s tree was the perfect choice.
“It kind of fit the bill, and I think it’s the most beautiful Christmas tree ever,” she said.
Following Thursday’s harvest, the tree was loaded for transport to its new home outside Fiserv Forum, accompanied by a Milwaukee Police Department escort.
The planned route takes the 40-foot spruce along Mill Road and Fond du Lac Avenue, south on 35th Street and east on North Avenue. From there, the procession continues along Fond du Lac and McKinley avenues before heading south on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The final stretch follows State Street and Vel R. Phillips Avenue before reaching the Deer District.
Mayor Cavalier Johnson joined city officials, DPW Forestry crews, Milwaukee Bucks representatives and the homeowners for the annual tree harvest.
Johnson said this year’s celebration carries special significance following the Milwaukee Brewers’ first World Series championship.
“You only get a Christmas tree, a city Christmas tree, in the same year the Brewers win the World Series one time,” Johnson said. “Well, maybe more than one time when they win the next one, but this is the first one. So that makes it extra, extra special.”
When is Milwaukee’s Christmas tree lighting?
The tree will be decorated ahead of the city’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Friday, Nov. 20, outside Fiserv Forum in the Deer District.
This year’s celebration marks Milwaukee’s 113th annual Christmas tree lighting, one of the nation’s longest-running official city Christmas tree traditions, second only to New York City, according to city officials.
Johnson said the event will bring people together from well beyond Milwaukee.
“The whole city, not just the whole city, the whole region and folks from all across the state coming down to celebrate this,” Johnson said. “This is going to be one for the history books, and we’re super excited about it.”
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