Photos: Cedar Rapids’ Green Square tree lights up for the holidays

The city’s Christmas tree was lit for the first time in a ceremony Saturday night

Dec. 7, 2025 4:53 pm

Groups gather during the celebration for the Cedar Rapids Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Greene Square in southeast Cedar Rapids on Saturday. The 25-foot Colorado blue spruce donated by the Kraft family. Coonrod Crane Services transported and placed the tree in the park. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Hailey Bornstein helps her son Rax Washington, 3, both of Cedar Rapids toast a marshmallow for s’mores during the celebration for the Cedar Rapids Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Greene Square in southeast Cedar Rapids on Saturday. The 25-foot Colorado blue spruce donated by the Kraft family. Coonrod Crane Services transported and placed the tree in the park. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Five-year-old Ryat Washington, of Cedar Rapids, blows out his marshmallow that caught fire as he makes s’mores with his brother and mother during the celebration for the Cedar Rapids Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Greene Square in southeast Cedar Rapids on Saturday. The 25-foot Colorado blue spruce donated by the Kraft family. Coonrod Crane Services transported and placed the tree in the park. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

A lighted snowflake silhouettes an attendee during the celebration for the Cedar Rapids Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Greene Square in southeast Cedar Rapids on Saturday. The 25-foot Colorado blue spruce donated by the Kraft family. Coonrod Crane Services transported and placed the tree in the park. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Five-year-old Willow Troupe of Cedar Rapids walks ahead of her mother Kalynn Troupe and her 1-year-old sister Lakeland Donner during the celebration for the Cedar Rapids Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Greene Square in southeast Cedar Rapids on Saturday. The 25-foot Colorado blue spruce donated by the Kraft family. Coonrod Crane Services transported and placed the tree in the park. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Hailey Bornstein helps her son Ryat, 5, stack a striped cookie for s’mores as her other son Rax, 3, all of Cedar Rapids looks on during the celebration for the Cedar Rapids Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Greene Square in southeast Cedar Rapids on Saturday. The 25-foot Colorado blue spruce donated by the Kraft family. Coonrod Crane Services transported and placed the tree in the park. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Five-year-old Ryat Washington (left) toasts his marshmallow as his brother Rax, 3, both of Cedar Rapids looks on as they make s’mores with their mother Hailey Bornstein during the celebration for the Cedar Rapids Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Greene Square in southeast Cedar Rapids on Saturday. The 25-foot Colorado blue spruce donated by the Kraft family. Coonrod Crane Services transported and placed the tree in the park. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)