What happens after the holidays?

Toronto: The Distillery District Winter Village is a magical spot during the holidays. Picture this: you’re walking through charming Victorian buildings that have been around for over 150 years. It’s like stepping back in time!

The highlight? A massive real tree that lights up the square and brings joy to over 800,000 visitors each year. But have you ever wondered where this tree comes from? It’s quite a story!

This year’s tree is a silver fir that was planted at Drysdale’s Tree Farm in Egbert, Ontario, 50 years ago. Can you believe it? After all that time, it was finally chosen to be the star of the show! Standing 55 feet tall and 25 feet wide, it was carefully cut down and transported to Toronto.

On November 1st, a flatbed truck rolled through Trinity Street with this giant tree. The crew worked hard to prep it, shaving down the trunk and hoisting it up high. It took two weeks from delivery to decoration, as the branches needed time to settle before they could be adorned.

Some folks might feel sad about the tree being chopped down, but there’s a lot of magic in store for it. A team from Dior, yes, the luxury brand, designs over a thousand custom ornaments for the tree! Plus, they use more than 70,000 lights to make it shine bright.

Santa even makes a special appearance to flip the switch during the lighting ceremony. For six weeks, this tree becomes a symbol of Christmas joy, bringing families and friends together to marvel at its beauty.

When the season wraps up on January 6th, the tree’s journey isn’t over. It will be chopped up and turned into mulch for new trees in parks or donated for conservation projects. Drysdale’s Tree Farm plants up to 20,000 new trees every spring, ensuring this beloved tradition continues for years to come.