New Ulm’s 40-foot Upside-Down Christmas Tree is back for its third holiday season and its second in German Park. This year it’s nominated for Best Christmas Tree Display in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Help us put New Ulm’s upside-down holiday tradition in the Top 10!
Vote for New Ulm’s Upside-Down Christmas Tree
See the tree light up Friday, November 27
Join Mayor Kathleen Backer for the official tree lighting at 5 p.m. on Friday, November 27, 2026, in German Park (200 N. German Street). The display is free to visit and runs through December 31.
Come early for the second annual Weihnachts Markt, New Ulm’s outdoor holiday market. Browse the vendor booths from noon to 5 p.m., grab a bite from a food truck and see the trees decorated by local businesses and organizations. After the lighting, head a block downtown to catch the 38th Annual Parade of Lights, which starts at 6 p.m. on Minnesota Street.
Explore Weihnachts Markt · Get Parade of Lights details
Why is the Christmas tree upside down?
New Ulm’s tree is a playful nod to an old European custom. One legend connects the tradition to Saint Boniface, a missionary in what is now Germany, and the use of an evergreen to represent the Holy Trinity. In parts of Central and Eastern Europe, families also hung smaller evergreens from the ceiling as part of their holiday celebrations. New Ulm gives the tradition its own twist, on a 40-foot scale. Read how New Ulm’s Upside-Down Christmas Tree got started.
The tree first went up in 2024 and caught the attention of Forbes. Today, it’s one of the things that makes a holiday stroll through the “Christmas City” feel like New Ulm. Take a lap through German Park to see the decorated trees, then head downtown to see the real Christmas trees, lighted wreaths made from fresh garland and storefronts dressed up for the season.
Thank you to Schaefer Companies, Kraus Tree Service, Hunt Electric and the New Ulm Public Utilities Commission for donating the time, equipment and expertise that make this display possible.
Already planning your photo under the tree? Give it a vote, too!