A 40-foot balsam fir located outside the home of Anne and Toby Nappi in Westbrook was cut and transported to the square Thursday.
The Nappis were a runner-up when they first submitted photos to the city two years ago in hopes their tree would be chosen for the city’s annual decoration.
Since then the tree has continued to grow, getting closer to the 50-foot mark and towering above the average power pole. This year the Nappis got lucky.
On Thursday, city forestry crews with the help of Shaw Brothers Construction and Keeley Crane Service cut the tree, loaded it into a flatbed trailer and delivered it to Monument Square.
A tree lighting ceremony hosted by Portland Downtown is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 25 at 4 p.m. There was no formal countdown to the tree-lighting last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, though Portland Downtown provided a “Tree Cam” on its website allowing visitors to virtually take in the tree and its surroundings.
That feature, which Portland Downtown Executive Director Cary Tyson said proved to be very popular during the pandemic, will continue this year. In addition, the group also will be hosting a U.S. Soccer World Cup watch party with an outdoor viewing in the square at 2 p.m.
The lighting ceremony will include free eggnog, face painting, music and ice carving demonstrations with the lights expected to go on as dusk falls around 4:30 p.m.
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