When the Colorado blue spruce that Bill and Deanna Ellingson planted almost 30 years ago in their front yard in Roseville stretched too tall for them to easily string holiday lights around it, they came up with a clever solution:
The future 2025 Union Depot Holiday Tree is currently in the front yard of Bill and Deanna Ellingson of Roseville. (Courtesy of Deanna Ellingson)
“I got a couple of projectors and projected lights up on the tree and the neighbors seemed to really like that,” Bill says.
The neighbors are in for a bigger light show this year for the approximately 40- to 45-foot evergreen: The tree has been chosen as the 2025 Union Depot Holiday Tree.
The neighbors — and everyone else — are invited to attend the annual Holiday Tree Lighting and Movie Night at Union Depot in Lowertown on Saturday, Dec. 6. For those who can’t wait for their holiday cheer, the annual Salvation Army “Tree of Lights” — a digital tree — is being installed in Rice Park in downtown St. Paul ahead of a tree-lighting ceremony on Saturday.
A star is born
The Ellingsons first answered Union Depot’s call for trees in 2024 after reading about it in the Pioneer Press.
That year, their tree was a finalist for the chance to sparkle with thousands of energy-efficient LED lights.
“We didn’t know until they came to look at the tree,” Bill said. “We came in second place.”
This year, they didn’t submit their tree for consideration, but that didn’t matter.
“We came home one day in October and there were a couple of gals walking around the tree again,” Bill said.
The tree fit the required qualifications: It’s an evergreen tree located in Ramsey County, it looks good, it’s tall enough, it’s not going to be too difficult to remove and there is a reason for its removal (besides looking good).
Bill and Deanna Ellingson pose with their daughter, Kelli, and their dog, Cinnamon (Cinny), in 2005 by the Colorado blue spruce in their front yard in Roseville that they are now donating to become the 2025 Union Depot Holiday Tree. (Courtesy of Bill Ellingson)
“They asked us if we still wanted to donate it and we said, ‘Sure, we’re ready,’” Bill said.
While the tree is considered a donation, the Ellingsons will not have to pay for the associated costs of removing it and grinding its stump down (a $5,000+ value).
The tree is scheduled to be cut down on Saturday morning, after which it will be taken directly to the North Plaza of the Union Depot to be installed. Watch for updates on the Union Depot’s social media, including Facebook and Instagram.
Rice Park and red kettles
The installation of the Salvation Army “Tree of Lights” is a much different process, since it’s a digital tree.
After the finishing touches are put in place on Thursday, the 40-foot artificial tree that resembles a Fraser fir will be ready to switch on its thousands of lights for its fourth annual appearance in Rice Park at 109 W. Fourth St. in downtown St. Paul. This year’s tree installation, the Salvation Army says, will again feature a dynamic light program that is synchronized with holiday music and will be updated weekly.
The tree lighting celebration, which will also mark the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Kick-off, is set for 5:30 p.m. on Saturday with St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, NFL Hall of Famer Cris Carter and the award-winning vocal group VocalEssence.
Before the tree lighting, popular local DJ Ray Mills, the official DJ of the Minnesota Vikings, will provide music starting at 3:30 p.m. There will also be visits from the St. Paul Police Band drumline and Santa and Mrs. Claus. Free cookies and hot chocolate will be served by The Salvation Army’s disaster services canteens during the event.
If you can’t make it to this free event, there’s plenty of time to catch the sparkle: The tree will remain standing through Jan. 7, which includes the full run of the World Junior Hockey tournament in St. Paul (scheduled from Dec. 26-Jan. 5).
More info at salvationarmyusa.org/usa-central-territory/northern.
This Red Kettle season
The red kettles, part of a familiar fundraising drive at store entrances and street corners around the metro during the holidays, are especially in need of donations this year.
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The need goes beyond the climbing prices for food, gas, utilities and other essentials.
“The annual Red Kettle season is critically important this year,” said Lt. Colonel Randall Polsley, Salvation Army Northern Division commander, in a statement. “Recent reductions in Minnesota assistance programs have flooded our centers with new requests for help. More families are seeking food, rent and utility assistance as a result.”
Funds raised during the Christmas season support food and housing programs throughout the year, the Salvation Army says.
Bell ringers are still needed. Sign up at RegisterToRing.com.
Hub for the Holidays
Deanna and Bill Ellingson, bottom and top right, pose with their daughter and son-in-law, Kelli and Chad Hofmeister, and their grandson, Wesley Hofmeister, in 2022. (Courtesy of Bill Ellingson)
While the mayor will lead the dignitaries at Saturday’s tree lighting, the Ellingsons have a different wish for the Dec. 6 celebration at Union Depot.
“We have a 9-year-old grandson, Wesley, and if it’s at all possible, he would like to turn the tree lights on at Union Depot,” Bill says.
Wesley, we heard this might happen.
The whole family will be in attendance for the tree lighting, including Wesley’s mom and dad, Kelli and Chad. Kelli was in the sixth grade when she and her parents moved into their townhome and planted the tree that grew up right along with her.
Unlike Kelli though, the tree has been starting to cause issues, such as encroaching on the sidewalk.
“It’s a good time to see it go,” Bill says, “but we will miss it. We’ve watched it grow since it was about 5½ feet tall.”
Still, Deanna is looking forward to what’s next.
“It’ll be kind of exciting, watching them cut it down,” she says. Also: “I love fireworks,” she adds.
Yes, the tree-lighting ceremony will include a flourish of fireworks — and more things to do during the Hub for the Holidays at Union Depot, including the return of the European Christmas Market, the North Pole Express, the CPKC Holiday Train and a holiday bake sale.
On Dec. 6, the fun begins inside the Waiting Room at Union Depot, located at 214 E. Fourth St., at 5 p.m. with the reveal of the 2026 St. Paul Winter Carnival Button. There will also be a holiday musical performance by The Mistletones, free hot chocolate, photo ops, craft stations and a lightup giveaway for kids.
At 7 p.m., guests will move outside for the tree lighting ceremony, which includes a sing-a-long and fireworks.
After the tree is lit, the movie night, featuring “Elf,” begins indoors at 7:30 p.m.
Get details on seasonal events at uniondepot.org/holiday.
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While the Union Depot tree will sparkle through the new year, the search for the next and future Union Depot holiday trees is ongoing. This year, the tree was chosen from between 25 and 50 submissions, but Union Depot officials would like more contenders.
“If people have a tree in mind that they think could qualify,” says Amy Struve, Union Depot’s marketing manager, “we would love to hear from them.”
To be considered, email your address and a photo of the tree to info@uniondepot.org or call 651-202-2700. A tree can also be submitted for consideration through Union Depot’s website at uniondepot.org/holiday/holiday-tree/.
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