Michigan Avenue got a whole lot merrier on Friday night. Mayor Brandon Johnson was among the onstage VIPs as thousands of gathered onlookers stood shoulder to shoulder in crowds that stretched down Michigan Avenue at Millennium Park for the lighting of Chicago’s official Christmas tree.

A 66-foot Norway spruce is this year's tree as the holiday season kicks off with tree lighting, ice skating and more.

The sights and sounds of Christmas are starting to spring up along the Bayfront, especially after volunteers worked to bring the traditional H-E-B Christmas tree to life on Friday. The 40 volunteers gathered to get the 66-foot tree ready for its official lighting on Dec.