By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
Get our free e-newsletter
ROCKFORD — The city’s annual harbinger of the holidays happened Tuesday morning as a massive blue spruce received a police escort into its home for Stroll on State.
The city’s official Christmas tree, which will be decorated Friday and lit at 6 p.m. Nov. 30, was placed into its stand Tuesday at the corner of South Main and Elm streets. The tree’s arrival is an annual signal that the Stroll on State festival is less than two weeks away. Stroll will take place Nov. 30.
“This is the day to me that makes it feel real,” said Kristen Paul, GoRockford’s executive vice president. “It’s like when you put (a tree) up in your house. All of a sudden it feels like it’s time.”
Related: Vote now | Help choose this year’s Stroll on State T-shirt
Bringing the more than 30-foot tall, 20-foot wide tree into downtown is a spectacle in itself that requires a crane, flatbed truck, bucket lift and a police escort as it takes up two lanes of traffic on its route.
John Groh, president and CEO of GoRockford, said his 12-year-old son joked upon seeing the tree’s convoy that “they’re protecting it like the president.”
The spruce is harvested, hauled and installed by volunteers from Tree Care Enterprises, Howe Freightways, Creative Crane and Stenstrom.
“It is a massive undertaking,” Groh said. “We couldn’t do it without them, and that’s the story of Stroll. It’s always been by the community and for the community and a free gift to the community, and so we’re grateful for everybody who makes it happen.”
This is the second year in a row that the tree came from an apartment complex on Sandra Lane, where it was one of three large spruces growing too close to each other and building. It was donated by Stateline Rental Properties.
“If you don’t take care of them or cut them down then they’re just going to deteriorate,” said Rick Davis, owner of Stateline Rental Properties. “It was a perfect opportunity for us to donate the tree.”
The visitors bureau expects to use the third of the three trees at the property next year.
“We’ve never had it where we’ve had three trees in the same location that were so beautiful,” Paul said. “So this was a really unique treat.”
People gathered outside the apartment complex Tuesday morning to watch the tree’s harvest, and others recorded the installation on cell phones as it made its way into downtown.
For Davis and the Stateline Rental Properties staff, it’s an honor to have a tree from their property serve as the city’s official Christmas tree.
“You get tears in your eyes because you’re the one who donated it and everybody gets to share it,” Davis said. “Just look at all the people around today alone.”
Decorating days for Stroll on State happen Friday and Saturday with GoRockford staff an a volunteer team.
“It takes the full day to get all the lights and ornaments on, that’s one of the most exciting parts,” Paul said.
Stroll on State begins at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, turning downtown into a winter wonderland full of holiday-themed activities and treats.
The free holiday festival is now in its 12th year.
The tree-lighting ceremony always brings swarms of people to Elm and Main streets for the music and countdown.
The ceremony begins at 6 p.m. next to the BMO Center, and this year it will be followed by an aerial drone show.
“It’s been warmer this fall than many recent years, so it hasn’t totally felt like Stroll is coming,” Groh said. “But when the tree goes up and the temperatures fall a little bit it does feel like OK, it’s going to start to happen.”
Get ready | Stroll on State
When: 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30
Where: Downtown Rockford
Dasher Dash: Noon on Saturday, Nov. 30 starting at Beattie Park
For all events and attractions: Go HERE
To volunteer: Go HERE
More info: strollonstate.com
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas