Downtown Grand Rapids won't be as much in the Christmas spirit this year as it has in the past due to budget issues.

The Grand Rapids Art Museum usually puts up a brightly lit tree between itself and Rosa Parks Circle. Unfortunately, those lights are part of the problem. If they wanted to erect a tree this year, they would have to spend $50,000to replace the 50,000 LED lights that they've used for the past nine years. So, they're foregoing the tree this year.

The museum says that if funding becomes available in the future, they will consider putting the tree up again.

The museum said in a statement:

GRAM appreciates the outpouring of support for the holiday tree, and we would love to continue to help our community celebrate the holidays. Unfortunately, at this point in time GRAM is unable to expend the resources necessary to coordinate a successful tree lighting this year. If an individual or organization is able to finance and procure 50,000 commercial-grade LED lights by the end of the week— as well as a tree—we will gladly host the holiday tree for the City of Grand Rapids once again.

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