NEWBURYPORT — This year's holiday tree for Market Square has been found.
Every year, a local family donates a tree to the city for use in the downtown, and this year, Paul and Beverley Doyle decided theirs was worth sharing.
Paul Doyle said both he and his wife decided the tree would be perfect for the lighting and are looking forward to attending the event with their grandchildren.
"Not too many people can see it — just us, our family and neighbors — so we thought it would be nice to donate it so that people in the town can enjoy it, too," Doyle said.
The couple is originally from Newburyport and later moved to Salisbury. They moved back to the city last December when they retired. Doyle said it wasn't difficult to choose which tree to donate because it's the only one they have in their backyard on Russell Terrace Extension.
"It's a nice shaped tree about 40 feet high," Doyle said. "It's beautiful. I believe it's a blue spruce tree."
The tree used last year was about 50 feet tall. However, Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce President Ann Ormond said that once it is cut and the tree stand is attached, it becomes somewhat smaller.
The tree went up in Market Square yesterday, and will be hung with lights soon.
"It looks great, nice and full, and it was very nice of them to donate it," Ormond said.
In the annual holiday tradition, on Nov. 29 Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at the downtown waterfront boardwalk by U.S. Coast Guard boat and then parade up to Market Square, up State Street, Pleasant Street, Green Street, Merrimac Street and back to Market Square to sing Christmas carols and light the city's Christmas tree starting at 4 p.m.
Once the tree is put up and adorned with white lights by the Department of Public Services for the holiday season, it will stay in Market Square until New Year's Day.
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