Toronto’s official 58-foot Christmas tree arrives at Nathan Phillips Square
Posted November 16, 2021 6:14 am.
Last Updated November 16, 2021 1:16 pm.
The City of Toronto’s official Christmas tree arrived at Nathan Phillips Square on Tuesday ahead of the Cavalcade of Lights, which is expected to occur in the coming weeks.
The return of the tree — a 17.67-metre (58-foot) white spruce from Baldwin, Ont. — marks the official start of the holiday season in the City.
Officials said it takes approximately four hours to install as the white spruce requires three days to settle before it can be decorated with more than 300,000 energy-efficient lights and 500 ornaments. It does not need to be watered, according to the City.
The tree is the centrepiece of the Cavalcade of Lights celebration, which will be modified this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Nathan Phillips Square Christmas tree arrives outside Toronto City Hall. A 60 for tall white spruce, 37 feet wide, the largest tree ever to centrepiece the Cavalcade of Lights. pic.twitter.com/B7Ixk3HGB4
— Kevin Misener (@Kevin_Misener) November 16, 2021
“I’m happy to see the City of Toronto’s official Christmas tree arrive to mark the start of the holiday season. Watching the Christmas tree arrive in Nathan Phillips Square and seeing crews working to decorate for the Cavalcade of Lights is another sign of the progress we are making fighting COVID-19,” Mayor John Tory said on Tuesday.
“I can’t wait to see the tree lit up later this month and hope it will help fill people with the spirit of the holidays.”
Once the holiday season ends, the tree will be recycled.
On its website, the City said this year’s Cavalcade of Lights will be “very different from previous years, with reimagined festivities available throughout the season to encourage physical distancing.”
This year’s lighting event won’t include the traditional kickoff with fireworks, to avoid gathering of a large crowd. The City said more details about the Cavalcade of Lights would be unveiled on Nov. 23.
Last month, Ontario lifted all capacity limits for outdoor organized public events, including parades and festivals.
At the time, Mayor John Tory said the changes come too late to save Toronto’s Santa Claus Parade, but a modified Cavalcade of Lights should be able to return.
With files from Kevin Misener and Michael Ranger of CityNews
