Toledo Museum Announces 2025 Christmas Tree
Ship Event, Plus Free Admission and Holiday Giveback

   Toledo, Ohio – The National Museum of the Great Lakes (NMGL) will host its annual Christmas Tree Ship event on Saturday, December 6, 2025. Presented by UToledo Health, with support from the Port of Monroe, the day features free museum admission for all visitors and marks the museum’s largest community giveback event of the year.
   Inspired by the historic schooner Rouse Simmons—known as the original “Christmas Tree Ship”—the event blends holiday tradition with Great Lakes history. The community is invited to purchase a live 5–7 ft. Christmas tree for themselves or donate one to a community member in need. Trees, sourced from Matthes Tree Farm in Ida, Michigan, may be pre-purchased through Sunday, November 30, at 1 p.m.

NMGL also invites the community to purchase gift card donations, which the museum’s community partners will distribute:

• East Toledo Family Center
• Family House
• Lucas County Children Services
• Sylvania Area Family Services

   Thanks to the generosity of UToledo Health, every tree or gift card donation will include a matching healthy hygiene kit provided to families in need. More details on how to donate can be found at nmgl.org/event/christmas-tree-ship25.

   “This event embodies who we are as a museum—not just a place that preserves, shares, and celebrates history, but a place that also uplifts our community,” said Sara Smith, Director of Institutional Advancement at the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Event Schedule — Saturday, December 6

• 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. — Free admission to the National Museum of the Great Lakes
• 11:00 a.m. — East Toledo Holiday Parade
• 1:15 p.m. — Live Facebook stream of the tugboat delivering Christmas trees
• 1:30 p.m. — Santa arrives by tugboat at the museum with live trees
• 1:45–3:45 p.m. — Meet & greet with Santa inside the museum

Families in need of a donated tree may contact United Way’s Community Resource Advisors by dialing 211.

How to Participate
   Purchase or donate a tree, purchase a gift card for donation, or learn more about the event at nmgl.org/event/christmas-tree-ship25

[National Museum of the Great Lakes]

Ocean Tower departs with Big Blue 70 from Manitowoc

Ocean Tower departed with Big Blue 70 at 8:24 AM Tuesday morning with the tug Donald J Sarter assisting them in getting down the river.
   The Sarter was back in Sturgeon Bay by 2:31 PM
Wednesday morning update::
   The Tow passed under the Mackinac Bridge at approx. 8:00 AM  
[More Photos of Tuesday’s start in the Gallery below]