Detroit Christmas Tree Lighting 2019: What you need to know

Detroit Christmas Tree in 2015. (Photo: @mrsteviesoul)

DETROIT – The Detroit Christmas Tree will be lit on Friday night for the holiday season!

The annual event draws thousands to Downtown Detroit, between Campus Martius Park and related events at Beacon Park. The Michigan-grown, 60-foot tall Norway Spruce will take center stage when DTE Foundation Chair Nancy Moody “flips the switch” on 19,000 multi-colored, energy efficient LED lights and hundreds of sparkling ornaments.

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Watch the ceremony live here.

Here’s what you need to know:

When and where is the tree lighting event?

The 16th Annual Detroit Tree Lighting Ceremony at Campus Martius Park and Light Up Beacon Park on Friday, Nov. 22 from 5 p.m. to midnight. The free events are open to the public.

The actual tree lighting is at Campus Martius Park.

Who is appearing?

At Campus Martius:

Headlining Detroit’s most highly anticipated holiday celebration is Detroit’s own GRAMMY-nominated artist Mayer Hawthorne. Guests will also enjoy performances from the Detroit Youth Choir, World Champion Figure Skater and two-time Olympian Yuka Sato, and Olympian Mirai Nagasu, the first American figure skater to land a triple axel at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

At Beacon Park:

Detroit’s only Children’s Tree will appear in DTE’s Beacon Park for the first time as the centerpiece of Light Up Beacon Park, a festive holiday celebration featuring spectacular light displays and live-streaming of Tree Lighting at Campus Martius Park in the cozy Winter Lodge tent.

Families, visitors and Detroiters alike will enjoy free shuttles between Beacon Park and Campus Martius Park from 4:30 p.m. to midnight, performances by Staffanie Christ’ian, Casali Holiday Dancers, DJ Invisible and SHIGETO, interactive light displays, visits with Santa and local food trucks. Local youth will be on hand to help light the Children’s Tree prior to the spruce in Campus Martius.

What time does the tree get lit?

Usually between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Find out more on the official Facebook event page.


About the Author

Ken Haddad has proudly been with WDIV/ClickOnDetroit since 2013. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters, and helps lead the WDIV Insider team. He's a big sports fan and is constantly sipping Lions Kool-Aid.

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