Fort Worth Installs 84-Foot Christmas Tree
The Norway spruce, harvested in Michigan, is the centerpiece of Fort Worth's 80th annual Community Christmas Tree tradition.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Seasonal Events
Crews lifted an 84-foot Norway spruce weighing 8.5 tons into Sundance Square Plaza in Fort Worth. The tree traveled more than 1,200 miles from Fife Lake, Michigan, to North Texas.
Why it matters
The installation marks the 80th year of Fort Worth's Community Christmas Tree tradition, which began in 1947 and anchors the city's holiday season downtown. The tree's size and origin reflect the scale of an event that has been sustained by civic groups and Sundance Square.
The tree stands 84 feet tall and weighs 8.5 tons, making it 8 feet taller than the Rockefeller Center tree in New York City. The source does not report attendance projections or the total cost of transporting and installing the tree.
The players
Sundance Square
Sundance Square is a downtown Fort Worth entertainment and retail district that has managed the Community Christmas Tree since 2004.
Amon G. Carter
Amon G. Carter was a Fort Worth newspaper publisher and civic leader who launched the city's Community Christmas Tree tradition in 1947.
The details
Crews lifted the 8.5-ton Norway spruce into position in Sundance Square Plaza after it was transported by truck from Michigan. This year's ornaments feature artwork by local North Texas artists, and the branches will take a couple of weeks to settle before decorating and lighting.
Timeline
1947: The Community Christmas Tree tradition began in Fort Worth, launched by Amon G. Carter.
1956: The Fort Worth Jaycees took over the tree project.
2004: Stewardship and management of the tree passed to Sundance Square.
Friday, November 13, 2026: The 84-foot tree arrived and was lifted into Sundance Square.
Tuesday, December 1, 2026, 6:30-7 p.m.: Official tree lighting ceremony with a Michael Martin Murphey concert.
Seasonal Patterns
At 84 feet, the Fort Worth tree stands 8 feet taller than the Rockefeller Center tree that has anchored New York's holiday display for decades. The installation continues a Fort Worth tradition dating to 1947, a long-running civic holiday ritual in the city.
The tree lighting ceremony on December 1, 2026 is a free public event in Sundance Square Plaza that residents can attend in person. Visitors can see the 84-foot tree downtown once its branches settle and it is decorated.
The takeaway
Downtown visitors planning to see the tree should note the December 1 lighting ceremony, since the display is decorated and lit only after its branches settle. Arriving for the ceremony offers the clearest view of the centerpiece of Fort Worth's holiday season.
What happens next
The official tree lighting ceremony takes place Tuesday, December 1, 2026, from 6:30 to 7 p.m., featuring a Michael Martin Murphey concert.
Further reading
Explore more Fort Worth seasonal events happening around the city this holiday season.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth.
