The countdown is on… In a mere 6 weeks, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, City Representative Sheila Hess and some other amazing guests will officially light the holiday tree at the north side of City Hall on Wednesday, December 4th at the City of Philadelphia Official Philly Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration Presented by Bank of America and produced by the Office of the City Representative. The program, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., will feature family friendly activities, festive entertainment and the official tree lighting celebration.

This year’s tree is a fresh white fir (Abies concolor), standing at an impressive 55 feet tall; even taller than William Penn way atop City Hall; and is scheduled to make its glorious evergreen debut on
Monday, November 18th. When installed and decorated, the tree will showcase dozens of glimmering multi-colored festive lights that will illuminate the City Hall skyline.

Meanwhile, here are a few fun fir facts, as we fa-la-la-la our way into the holiday season:

  • The tree will be adorned with about 4,000 linear feet of LED lights and more than a dozen custom-designed ornaments, such as hand-made wooden and plastic colorful holiday balls; snowmen, sleds, stars, snowflakes and other super-festive items that scream: “It’s that time of year!”
  • Skip the gold star….Our massive freshly-cut tree is topped with a Philly-style illuminated gold Liberty Bell, “the Tree Topper.” We know it’s chill because Billy Penn approved it!
  • The tree has a neat white custom-steel tree base of more than 7 feet, weighing at least 40,000 pounds.
  • The base represents 30 of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods — from Chinatown to Fishtown. The decorative pedestal showcases artful images of Philadelphia’s skyline and icons such as Independence Hall, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. So Philly, we know.
  • A festive soundtrack accompanying the tree base features three bell chimes and your fave holiday classics. Just music to our ears!
  • All of this sets the stage for our fantastic tree’s shining golden moment (the countdown please…) at the tree lighting finale on December 4. Three, two, one …..So worth it!

The good folks at the Sautter Crane Co., of Northeast Philadelphia, are donating their services and will use two cranes to secure the tree after its delivery to City Hall. It has generously done so for more than 25 years.

The City’s tree will be on display until ‘Dem golden slippers of the Sultans of Strut hit Broad Street on New Year’s Day, after which the tree quietly makes an exit and is retired, removed and recycled.

For more information about the Philly Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration Presented by Bank of America, click here.