Cathedral Square Park trees decorated for the holidays by Milwaukee-area students

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Cathedral Square Park is looking a lot more festive! It's all part of the 23rd annual Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival. 

Students from schools across the Milwaukee metro area are transforming the park by decorating Christmas trees. This year's theme is "Community Spirit Park." Each tree represents a class theme or wish demonstrated through handmade ornaments. 

"Our class is decorating one of the trees at Cathedral Square. We were able to choose a theme, we chose celebrations around the world. It's part of a project we're doing, learning about different places around the world, and different celebrations around the world," said Lisa Erickson, 5th grade teacher at Wilson Elementary School.

Decorating will continue through Wednesday, Nov. 17. The festival will officially begin the day after when more than 500,000 lights throughout downtown Milwaukee are turned on in the evening.