A backyard tree can become Chicago’s holiday centerpiece only if it meets the city’s requirements and can make the journey to Millennium Park. The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is accepting nominations for the official Chicago Christmas tree through Oct. 23, 2026.
As WTTW News reported, nominations go to [email protected] and must include the owner's name, address, phone number and email address, along with a brief description of the tree. Applicants should attach at least two photos: one close-up and one taken from a distance, giving officials a view of its size and shape.
The requirements narrow the field: a tree must be at least 45 feet tall and located within 50 miles of the Loop. WTTW reported that officials prefer trees within 15 miles of downtown. Norway spruce and fir trees are eligible and preferred; pine trees are not eligible.
Donated Trees, From Yard to Park
Recent selections illustrate the range of locations and trees that have met the search criteria. WTTW reported that the 2025 tree was a 68-foot Norway spruce donated by the Mason family of Glenview; the 2024 selection was a 53-foot Colorado blue spruce donated by the Holden-Shaddick family of Logan Square.
That towering Glenview spruce almost met a much quieter fate. The Mason family had decided the tree needed to come down anyway, telling CBS News Chicago that its roots were tangling with their home's foundation ahead of planned renovations — a reminder that some of the city's most memorable trees start out as a homeowner's headache rather than a holiday dream.
The Journey From a Yard to the Park
Choosing a tree is one step; removing it from a residential property and moving it downtown is another. A recent example offers a glimpse of that process.
A Long-Running Tradition, and a Carefully Timed Move
The city described its 2023 Christmas tree as the 110th annual selection: a 45-foot Colorado Blue Spruce donated by the De La Cruz family of Darien, according to City of Chicago records. That example offers a historical marker for the tradition, though it does not document how the tree’s location or public display has changed over time. For the separate 2025 selection, Fox 32 Chicago reported that the 68-foot Glenview spruce was scheduled to be cut at the Mason family’s home on Monday and transported to Millennium Park on Tuesday.
Once a winner is chosen, the tree will be illuminated in Millennium Park from Nov. 20, 2026, through Jan. 10, 2027, lighting up the park through the heart of the holiday season. For now, the only thing standing between a backyard spruce and that downtown spotlight is an email, two photos, and a few weeks before the Oct. 23 deadline arrives.
