The tree that signals the start of the holiday season in Portland will arrive in Monument Square on Thursday, November 21 around 9:00am.
Crews from the Forestry Section of Portland’s Parks, Recreation & Facilities Department will prepare the 40' Norway Spruce tree for transportation to Monument Square beginning at 8:00am on Thursday at the Deering Oaks Baseball Field in Portland. Keeley Crane Services and Shaw Brothers Construction have donated staff, crane, and transportation services to make this project possible. Assistance will also be provided by the Portland Police and Portland Parking Control. Around 9:00 AM, the tree will begin its short trip from Deering Oaks to Monument Square.
Jeff Tarling, City of Portland Arborist, said: "This is the second time in as many years that our tree has come from a public space rather than a private tree donor (last year's tree was donated by the City of South Portland Fire Department). Typically we would not remove a healthy tree from a public open space or park without cause, but our Deering Oaks tree was planted too close to the baseball field and the nearby light tower. Thank you to the Friends of Deering Oaks and to the City of Portland Parks, Recreation & Facilities for helping us find this beautiful tree!"
Schedule of Tree Delivery on Thursday, November 21
- 8:00 AM – Tree prep begins at Deering Oaks Baseball Field
- 8:30 AM – Tree cutting & lifting - Keeley Crane, Shaw Brothers, and Portland Forestry.
- 9:00 AM – Tree leaves for Monument Square. Tree route is as follows: Deering Ave up to Bramhall Hill. Left turn down Congress Street to Monument Square.
- 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM – Tree arrives in Monument Square.
- 9:15 AM - 12:00 PM – Tree installed by City of Portland Forestry crews.
The tree will be lit with over 5,000 LED lights, donated by Efficiency Maine, during the Monument Square Tree Lighting Presented by Hood Eggnog on Friday, November 29 4:30pm-6:30pm. Produced by Portland Downtown, the festive night features a variety of free activities for the whole family including eggnog tastings, horse & wagon rides, a live ice carving demo, a warming hut at the Portland Public Library, a make-your-own holiday card station, live music, and a few other surprises. For more information visit portlandmaine.com.
