Local tree selected for Festival of Lights at Lambeau Field

The tree selected by the Green Bay Packers and Festival Foods for the 2025 Festival of Lights celebration was harvested this week in Bellevue, where Laura VanBoxel and her family have been caring for and decorating the blue spruce for the last 25 years.

“We had lots of fun decorating the tree through the holiday seasons, but it’s time to redo my landscaping and I didn’t want the tree to just be shredded,” VanBoxel said. “So I thought, ‘Well, I volunteer at Lambeau Field and I always see that beautiful tree. I wonder if they want my tree?’”
The tree, planted 25 years ago by Mike Calewarts of Calewarts Tree Farm, was decorated by VanBoxel and her family each year until it grew too large and her children grew up.

“It got too big and then the kids were gone — they got older, they went to college and they moved away,” VanBoxel said. “It go to be where I put Mr. and Mrs. Claus next to it and then spotlights on it.”

Nearly 40 feet tall, VanBoxel’s tree now stands tall in front of Lambeau Field on Harlan Plaza and will be decorated for the Festival of Lights event.

“Now all of these families and kids and everybody can smile and enjoy the tree instead of just shredding it up…” VanBoxel said. “When I’m there and I look around and I see all the smiling faces and everybody around the tree… That’s the cool part.”

The Festival of Lights, which will take place from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, is a free, family-themed event featuring holiday movies and cartoons, holiday card making, area high school choirs performing holiday music and photo opportunities with Santa Claus.

Volunteers will also be on hand during the event to collect toys and donations for Toys for Tots. Families attending Festival of Lights are encouraged to donate new, unwrapped toys to help families in need this holiday season.

At 6:30 p.m., the event will move out onto Harlan Plaza for the formal lighting of the tree.

With the tree cut down and her lawn looking empty, VanBoxel is gearing up to have a new tree planted in its place and maybe even see that tree make it to Lambeau Field someday.

“Mike’s going to plan another tree,” VanBoxel said. “And in 25 years, I’ll donate another one. I’ll be a bit older and so will he, but we’ll watch it happen again.”