Towering 40 feet above the ground — or more accurately, hanging 40 feet toward the ground — a blue spruce was placed upside down in German Park, continuing a tradition launched last year by the Downtown Action Team and the New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce.

This year’s tree has a special backstory. The impressive blue spruce began its life in the backyard of Bobbi and Matt Teske, longtime New Ulm residents who decided the time had come to part with the tree that had grown far larger than they anticipated.

For the Teskes, donating the tree was both a practical decision and a sentimental one.

“We’ve had a garden for three years, and this tree was blocking a lot of the light,” Bobbi Teske said. “So we finally said, you know what? We’ll just contact Chad, and if they can use it for this, then it’ll actually have a purpose — and we won’t just have to cut down a really beautiful tree.”

Suspended by crane, the upside-down Christmas tree makes its debut at German Park. (Photo by Amy Zents)

On Monday morning, crews from ARR Construction, Kraus Tree Service, and Schaefer Crane Service arrived at the Teske home at 1002 S. Payne St. to begin the delicate process of removing the spruce. The team — Adam Reinhardt of ARR Construction, Chad Kraus of Kraus Tree Service, and Willis Schaefer with his crew from Schaefer Crane — worked together in a carefully choreographed operation.

The Teskes’ backyard sits on a sloped hill, which meant the tree could not simply be felled and hauled away. Instead, crews guided it slowly and safely down the incline to the waiting flatbed truck below. Working steadily and in close communication, they lowered the 2,500- to 3,000-pound spruce foot by foot, making sure the trunk remained stable and the branches protected.

A police escort then guided the truck through New Ulm, ensuring safe passage as the enormous tree made its way to German Park. Traffic paused, neighbors snapped pictures, and drivers smiled as the giant evergreen traveled to its new holiday home.

Compared to last year’s upside-down Christmas tree, this year’s spruce is wider and fuller, according to Rick Kamm, a member of the Downtown Action Team.

Once secured in German Park, the tree was suspended with its pointed tip facing the ground and the trunk reaching toward the sky. Heavy cement blocks keep it anchored and prevent swaying during Minnesota’s blustery winter season.

For the second year in a row, Willis Schaefer, owner of Schaefer Crane, donated the crane that helped raise the massive tree, which now hangs upside down in German Park for the holiday season. (Photo by Amy Zent

Willis Schaefer, owner of Schaefer Crane Service, emphasized that all companies involved volunteered their services.

“Everything — from ARR to Kraus Tree Service and us at Schaefer Crane — was donated,” he said. “We’re happy to contribute to the community and make this happen.”

The upside-down Christmas tree is not only a whimsical visual spectacle — it is also rooted in centuries-old German tradition. Upside-down trees were once used in Central and Eastern Europe as a symbol of the Holy Trinity, and they adorned ceilings in many Christian households during the Middle Ages.

The idea resurfaced in New Ulm last year when the Downtown Action Team and the Chamber sought to bring authentic German-inspired customs back to the city’s holiday celebrations. The concept was sparked by a memory from Lambrecht’s, a former New Ulm store that famously displayed upside-down Christmas trees in its windows.

“We wanted to do it in real German fashion,” Downtown Action Team chairwoman Deb Loverude said.

Bobbi and Matt Teske of New Ulm said goodbye to their giant fir tree as it was carefully moved to German Park to serve as the community’s upside-down Christmas tree. (Photo by Amy Zents)

In keeping with German Christmas customs, this year’s tree features a hidden “Christmas pickle” ornament tucked somewhere among its branches. Last year, despite little advertising, several children still found the pickle — a joyful surprise for organizers.

Sarah Sveine of the New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce said the tradition is now official. The first 30 people who locate the pickle and report it to the Chamber will receive a prize, adding a playful, interactive element to the display.

The upside-down tree is not the only highlight in German Park this season. Surrounding it are 29 smaller Christmas trees, each sponsored and decorated by local families or businesses. The trees, available for $75 apiece, will remain on display until January 2. One family and 28 businesses are participating this year.

Four of the 29 trees were donated by Tony Guggisberg of River Creek Nursery, who also helped transport and set them up. His contributions, like those of many others involved, reflect the strong sense of community support behind the project.

The Downtown Action Team — a robust group of volunteers including Loverude, Brie Taralson, Kara Carlson, Jessica Fisher, Lindsey Henn, John Kellen, Jennifer Mauer, Dr. Ann Vogel, Yvonne Weber, Chris Dalton, John Knisley, Stephanie Meyer and Adam Delacruz — coordinated the effort. They were joined by the Weihnachts Markt committee, which includes Taralson as meeting facilitator, Alexander Roth as on-site lead and logo designer, Vogel, Dalton, Loverude overseeing tree sponsorships, Erika and Joe Hoffmann as vendor coordinators, Joey Schugel from New Ulm Parks and Rec, JoAnn Griebel, Lorie Jewell as entertainment lead, Rick Kamm helping with tree sponsorships, Weber, and Chamber staff Sarah Warmka, Crystal Johnson and Mae Geidel.

Adam Reinhardt of ARR Construction carefully backs the massive Christmas tree down the sloped yard as workers steady it, preparing to move it onto the flatbed for its journey to German Park. (Photo by Amy Zents)

The team is already planning for the future. Their goal is to grow the event significantly and eventually showcase 100 sponsored trees throughout the park. A follow-up meeting will be held after this year’s festivities to review what worked well and identify ways to expand and improve.

The upside-down tree will be officially lit in conjunction with the annual Weihnachts Markt, an outdoor holiday market organized by the Downtown Action Team, the New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce, and the City of New Ulm.

As preparation wrapped up, organizers reflected on the meaning of the tradition and its place in New Ulm’s cultural landscape.

Visitors can expect a festive lineup: local artisan vendors, live music, choir performances, strolling carolers, family photo stations, fire pits, s’mores, and even reindeer and sleigh portraits.

The Weihnachts Market hours will run from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, with food trucks available from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The upside-down tree-lighting ceremony with Mayor Kathleen Backer will start at 5 p.m. Friday at the close of the Weihnachts Market.