What takes 57,000 lights, 1,368 feet of garland, 19 bows and a hand painted platform…It’s the City of Franklin Christmas Tree. The tree is being prepared to be set up the week after Thanksgiving on the square. The Franklin Streets Department has been storing the tree throughout the year and staff is hard at work fluffing the branches and painting the platform to make sure it looks great this year.

The Official lighting ceremony will take place on the steps of City Hall, December 2nd at 6:00 p.m. This year’s performance will feature the Children’s choir from Liberty Elementary directed by Music Teacher Bobby Vines. They have been performing at the Franklin tree lighting for the last 10 years. New this year, the Columbia State Franklin Campus singers from the Commercial Entertainment Program’s annual Christmas show, “Home for Christmas.” The singers, Greg Richards and Teriney Crawford will open the show with two musical performances from their program. After the Liberty Elementary singers, Mayor John Schroer will do the countdown to light the tree for the season. Refreshments will be served and Santa Claus will be available after the ceremony for those who want to take pictures.

Last year the City chose to purchase an artificial tree. The tree is 28 feet tall, 18 feet around and 30 feet wide at the base.