For a 22nd consecutive year, Outlets North Phoenix (previously Outlets at Anthem) will be home to the state’s tallest fresh-cut Christmas tree, and the tree will be on its way to town soon.

The 70-foot tree arrive at the Outlets will arrive via a 40-foot flatbed truck at 6:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 3 and be ushered into place by none other than Santa Claus himself riding in a Daisy Mountain fire truck.

Weather permitting, the tree will be lifted into place with an industrial crane at 7:45 a.m.

This year’s tree measures 70 feet tall and 20 feet wide and is being transported from a specialty tree lot on the California/Oregon border. More than 1.5 miles of LED lights, approximately 10,000 bulbs, will illuminate the tree, and 5,000 ornaments and bows will adorn it.

Each year, the tree is topped with a three-foot tall copper star, a nod to the state’s official metal. When completely decorated, the tree will weigh close to four tons.

After arrival at the Outlets North Phoenix a 10-person team of experts will spend two weeks – and more than 120 hours – using boom lifts to shape and decorate the tree.

To ensure the tree is kept fresh all season long, it is housed in a custom-made seven-foot deep well and sprayed with nearly 120 gallons of fire retardant. Six industrial guy wires hold the tall tree in place and stabilize it during windy weather.

Santa will be on hand to help unload the tree on arrival, as he has in years past as pictured.

(Photo provided by Outlets North Phoenix)