Vice President and Store Manager of Macy’s State Street Kim Groth (left), Make a Wish foundation recipient Ethan (center left), President of Macy’s Hal Lawton (center right) and American’s Got Talent runner-up Angelica Hale (right) all press the button to light up the Christmas Tree inside the Walnut Room at Macy’s on State Street, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Many consider it the official kick-off to Chicago’s holiday season.
And with the flick of a switch, the 45-foot-tall Great Tree at Macy’s on State Street came to life Saturday in a festive ceremony in the store’s legendary Walnut Room restaurant.
This year marks the 111th tree-lighting ceremony at the store site as well as the 51st annual holiday animated window display celebration. On hand for all the fun and the launch of Macy’s annual “Believe” campaign were season 12 “America’s Got Talent” runner-up singer Angelica Hale (who performed Faith Hill’s “Where Are You Christmas?”) and 8-year-old Make-A-Wish foundation wish recipient Ethan, who will have his wish granted at the end of the month. Hale had her own wish granted in 2013 by the organization.
The iconic Marshall Field’s clocks are among the Chicago landmarks represented by the ornaments on this year’s Great Christmas Tree in Macy’s on State Street, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, in Chicago. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
The theme of this year’s Great Tree is an homage to Chicago landmarks, including the iconic Marshall Field’s clocks on the State Street store facade. More than 2,000 ornaments adorn the tree, which is suspended from the Walnut Room ceiling. It takes nearly 72 hours for a team of workers to assemble and decorate the tree each season. The theme of this year’s display windows is “Reasons to Believe,” a tribute to all things “holiday season.”
Shoppers can also visit with Santa Claus on the store’s fifth floor at Santaland (photo packages begin at $17.99) through Dec. 24 (hours vary) . The Great Tree and the windows will be on display through Jan. 3, 2019.
Here’s a look at this year’s windows display and the Great Tree:
The Great Tree Lighting at Macy’s, Nov. 3, 2018, in Chicago. | Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images
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Angelica Hale sings during the Macy’s Tree lighting ceremony on State Street. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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Angelica Hale performs at Macy’s Great Tree lighting. | Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images
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Ornaments on the Christmas Tree in Macy’s on State Street, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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People view one of the animated Christmas window displays at Macy’s on State Street. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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People view the animated Christmas window displays at Macy’s on State Street. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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People view one of the animated holiday windwo displays at Macy’s on State Street. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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One of the 2018 animated Christmas window displays at Macy’s on State Street. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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One of the animated Christmas store displays at Macy’s on State Street, Nov. 3, 2018. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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One of the animated holiday window displays at Macy’s on State Street, Nov. 3, 2018. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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One of the animated Christmas window displays at Macy’s on State Street, Nov. 3, 2018. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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One of the 2018 animated Christmas window displays at Macy’s on State Street. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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One of the animated Christmas store displays at Macy’s on State Street, Nov. 3, 2018. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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Santa welcome visitors to Macy’s State Street store on Nov. 3, 2018 in Chicago. | Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images
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A quartet sings Christmas carols before the Macy’s Tree lighting ceremony. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
The crash occurred about 8:45 p.m. Wednesday in the 300 block of South State Street. The driver was issued citations. A woman in his car was hospitalized in good condition, police said.
“We don’t know what he’s going to look like in a month or two, so we’re just going to take one step at a time, and hopefully he’s going to be ready for training camp,” Karnisovas said.
