Preparations for this Saturday's 'Festival of Lights at Lambeau Field' continued today as a 40-foot balsam fir tree was harvested in Jackson County by Northern Christmas Trees and Nursery.

The tree will make its way to Lambeau Field Wednesday morning where it will be erected on Harlan Plaza. The process of stringing more than 10,000 lights will begin in the evening.

The tree chosen for the event was planted approximately 38 years ago on one of Northern Christmas Trees and Nursery's 6,200 acres in western Wisconsin. The state's largest Christmas tree grower, Northern previously has provided trees for the White House (Blue Room, 1970) and Wisconsin's governor (three times).

The tree will serve as the showpiece for 'Festival of Lights,' as the Packers and Festival Foods celebrate the yuletide spirit Saturday evening Dec. 2. The two-hour family-themed event, free to the public, is set to begin at 5 p.m. in the Lambeau Field Atrium and will include area high school choirs performing holiday music, cookie decorating, holiday cartoons on a big screen TV, reindeer petting, inflatables, 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 tree. Mills Fleet Farm is providing lights for the tree.

In addition, the Packers Pro Shop and Festival Foods are selling Packers ornaments with proceeds going to the Boys & Girls Club. Ornaments are priced at $5, with $2.50 going to charity, and are available the entire holiday season at the Packers Pro Shop and Festival Foods Stores.

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