Tree lighting sparks Christmas countdown

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in downtown Brisbane, with the city set to mark the annual lighting of the Christmas Tree.

The tree in King George Square is the centrepiece of Brisbane's Christmas decorations, and the official lighting ceremony has become a beloved annual tradition.

At nearly 22 metres tall, the tree is the tallest civic Christmas tree in Australia, featuring decorations that include 1.5 kilometres of lights and a solar-powered star on top.

The six-tonne tree has been assembled this week by a dedicated seven-person crew.

Friday night's lighting ceremony kicks off the 30-day countdown to Christmas Day, with several Brisbane events including the annual Christmas parade and the Lord Mayor's Christmas Carols.