Chicago's holiday tree marks a centennial

Darlene Love

They have been lighting an official Chicago holiday tree since 1913 — meaning this year’s Nov. 26 ceremony will mark the event’s centennial.

Not surprisingly, the city is ramping up for the special occasion — with Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame member Darlene Love tapped to be the headliner. Among other things, Love is know for her “(Christmas) Baby Please Come Home,” holiday classic — that she has sung annually on David Letterman’s late night chatfest for nearly 30 years.

The 2013 lighting ceremony also will be a nice family affair — with father-son broadcasters “Dateline NBC” and weekend “Today” anchor and ex-Chicagoan Lester Holt joining his son, Stefan Holt, the NBC-5 weekday morning anchor to emcee the event.

The hour-long program — beginning at 5 p.m., with lighting happening at 6 p.m. — also will feature the Joffrey Academy of Dance performing an excerpt from “The Nutcracker” and selections presented by the stars of “Elf the Musical” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical.”