KENOSHA, Wis. — Christmas came a little early to downtown Kenosha Tuesday as the city’s official 2026 Christmas tree made its way to Veterans Memorial Park. The massive 34-foot Colorado blue spruce, weighing approximately 5,500 pounds, was donated by Kenosha Bible Church and transported across the city with a police escort before being carefully positioned in its new home along the downtown lakefront.
The tree, donated by Kenosha Bible Church at 5405 67th St., will serve as the centerpiece of the city’s annual Lightin’ Up celebration on Friday, November 27. Thousands of Christmas lights will soon adorn the towering spruce as Kenosha prepares to officially welcome the holiday season.
Getting the enormous tree from its original location to downtown Kenosha was no small undertaking. Crews from the City of Kenosha Parks Department, assisted by the Kenosha Water Utility, carefully cut down the tree before loading it onto a large trailer for the trip across town. The Kenosha Police Department provided a special escort as the massive evergreen traveled through city streets to Veterans Memorial Park, located at 5220 Sixth Avenue.
Once downtown, workers used heavy equipment, including a large crane, to lift and position the tree. Arborists and city crews worked together to guide the towering spruce into place, a process that required careful coordination because of the tree’s enormous size and weight.
Kenosha Bible Church Senior Pastor Bill Culbertson expressed his excitement about the church’s contribution to the city’s Christmas celebration.
“We love that it’s being used for something that’s going to bring joy to so many people,” Culbertson said.
Kenosha Mayor David Bogdala also praised the donation and the coordinated effort required to bring the tree downtown.
“The city’s Christmas tree is a special part of what makes the Christmas season so magical here,” Bogdala said.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Kenosha Bible Church for this generous donation and to our Parks Department, Kenosha Water Utility and Kenosha Police Department for working together to bring it to Veterans Memorial Park. We look forward to seeing it illuminated and welcoming residents and visitors,” Bogdala added.
The city’s annual Lightin’ Up celebration is scheduled for Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving. The event, organized by the City of Kenosha in partnership with the Lakeshore Business Improvement District, Visit Kenosha and community sponsors, is one of the city’s longstanding holiday traditions.
For now, the giant blue spruce stands in Veterans Memorial Park awaiting its transformation into a brightly illuminated Christmas centerpiece. In just a few weeks, thousands of lights will bring the tree to life as families gather downtown to celebrate the beginning of another Christmas season in Kenosha.
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One Response
That’s my church! Proud to be a part of the tree giving for our city! Can’t wait to see it lit up!