Milwaukee's annual Christmas tree lighting takes place in Downtown Milwaukee

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MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The chilly weather and a new addition downtown are making it feel a lot like Christmas in Milwaukee.

We saw several hundred people in attendance which is pretty incredible considering the night was bitter cold and very windy.

Holiday seekers came bundled up in hats, scarves and gloves.

"Layers, lots and lots of layers," said Jennifer Ebby of Milwaukee.

Some went the extra mile staying cozy under warm blankets and bibs.

"When you are dressed appropriately it is absolutely beautiful. I am wearing my dad's snowmobile suit from 1972 and I'm pretty sure it's asbestos lined (laughs)," said Nicole Couture of Milwaukee.

Tasty hot chocolate was served to the first 500, and reindeer posed with the young and young-at-heart.

We asked nine-year-old Charlotte Ebby, "Have you ever seen a reindeer that close before?" "No, only at the zoo," said nine-year-old Charlotte Ebby.

"Just excited to get into the Christmas spirit and it's a fun, exciting thing to do," said Jennifer Ebby, Charlotte's mom.

It's a year of firsts for the city -- the first time the tree is on display outside Fiserv Forum, in what is now being referred to as the 'Cheer District'.

"We couldn't be more excited. This is really Milwaukee's place to gather and to live, work and play," said Michael Belot, Milwaukee Bucks Senior Vice President.

"I mean it's amazing coming out of COIVD, being able see all these people in the 'Cheer District', being ready to cheer them on to another championship," said Peggy Williams-Smith of Visit Milwaukee.

The centerpiece is a 31-foot Colorado blue spruce, weighing 2,800 pounds, transported from 58th and Garfield where it sat outside the home of a retired Milwaukee firefighter.

"First I'd like to thank the individual who planted the tree, who donated the tree after he grew the tree, 93-year-old Erwin Boehm," said Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson.

Santa waived to the crowd below from a Fiserv balcony, and then came that special moment. The tree has 3,500 bulbs, and 30 artisan ornaments, representing each aldermanic district.

"And it's really cool because it really shows the diversity and culture of what makes our city unlike any other and extra awesome I would say," said David Caruso, Milwaukee Christmas tree designer.

And while the guy who planted this tree some 50 years ago outside his home couldn't be here to see the lightning, he hopes that people just look at it and be happy and will be fulfilled at every Bucks home game this season.

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