A 45-foot tree on the St. Norbert College campus in De Pere, Wis., has been selected to be the centerpiece for the second annual 'Festival of Lights at Lambeau Field.'
The event, presented by the Green Bay Packers and Festival Foods, will take place Saturday, Dec. 8, from 5 to 7 p.m.
The tree, located at 402 Third St. on De Pere's west side, is outside the parish office of Old St. Joseph Church. The tree rests on land that eventually will be home to the college's new Miriam B. and James J. Mulva Library, and was slated for removal.
Cathie Puyleart, the office manager for the parish, submitted the proposal to the Packers and wrote her entry as if it came from the tree itself.
Titled "Letting My Light Shine," the essay begins, "Let me shine one last time at the Festival of Lights in all my majesty! My fate is one of darkness as the college will soon be excavating for the Mulva Library where I reside. I have captured the eyes of many, especially during Advent and Christmas when I shine adorned in a brilliance of lights."
Puyleart's winning entry, among a dozen submitted, earned her four tickets to the Packers-Raiders game, Dec. 9.
The tree will be harvested Monday, Dec. 3, beginning at 7 a.m., and will be transported to Lambeau Field with the assistance of a police escort due to the size of the vehicle. The tree will be erected and decorated later in the week.
The family-themed event, free to the public, will feature music choirs, reindeer and Santa Claus, and will culminate on Harlan Plaza with the spectacular illumination of the holiday tree decorated with more than 10,000 lights.
Set to begin at 5 p.m. in the Lambeau Field Atrium, 'Festival of Lights' will feature area high school choirs performing holiday music, cookie decorating, reindeer petting, holiday card making for troops on duty and photo opportunities with Santa Claus.
At 6:30 p.m. the event will move out onto Harlan Plaza for the formal lighting of the holiday tree. Mills Fleet Farm is providing the lights for the tree.
In addition, the Packers Pro Shop and Festival Foods will be selling Packers ornaments with proceeds going to the Boys & Girls Club. Ornaments are priced at $6, with $2.50 going to charity, and will be available the entire holiday season at the Packers Pro Shop and Festival Foods Stores.
