Downtown Detroit's Christmas Tree Is Here

The winter focal point of Campus Martius has arrived. 

A massive 60-foot tree will be stacked on top of the Woodward Fountain Friday afternoon.

Workers are already winterizing the rest of the park, converting grass and a stage into an ice rink. Next week, they will begin hanging 19,000 lights on the tree and another 350,000 around the downtown area.

This means it is time to say goodbye to building sand castles and lounging with a cocktail on Campus Martius beach and hello to hot cocoa with marshmallows and pretending you remember how to ice skate.

The official tree lighting ceremony takes place November 22.