Rockefeller Center's 74-Foot Christmas Tree Begins Journey to NYC

A towering 74-foot Norway spruce is on its way from Massachusetts to Midtown Manhattan to become this year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.

This marks the first time since 1959 that a tree from The Bay State will adorn the iconic plaza.

The tree, donated by the Albert family from West Stockbridge, was cut down on Thursday and will reach Rockefeller Center on November 9. When it arrives, it will be decorated with 50,000 LED lights and crowned with a Swarovski star featuring 3 million crystals.

For more than eight decades, the erection of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has represented the beginning of the holiday season for New Yorkers and the 60 million tourists visiting over that period.

The tree lighting ceremony, set for December 4, will be broadcast live on NBC .

How Is New York's Rockefeller Center Tree Chosen?

For over thirty years, every tree has been selected under the stewardship of Erik Pauze.

He started as a summer helper at Rockefeller Center when he was in college in 1988.

Rockefeller Center's head gardener, a seasoned expert in sourcing the perfect Christmas tree, is credited with discovering this specimen during a trip through the Berkshires in 2020.

"I saw the beautiful Norway Spruce as I drove down the road, and it was right in front of me," he said. "I knocked on the door and met Earl Albert. I asked if he would someday consider donating the tree to Rockefeller Center. His answer was immediately yes."

From December 4 until mid-January, the tree will be lit daily from 5 a.m. to midnight.

Extended hours will apply on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve , when the tower will be illuminated for 24 hours and until 9 p.m., respectively.

'It's So Beautiful, It's Fantastic'

Onlookers gathered in West Stockbridge to watch as workers high up in the branches of the massive spruce prepared it for its journey to New York City.

Some dressed as Santa Claus , and others cheered from behind barriers as the 11-ton tree was lifted onto a flatbed truck. Among the crowd were Michael and Tania Hardinger, a pair of professional musicians from Denmark , who made a special trip to see the tree before it left Massachusetts.

"We're big on Christmas, and the Rockefeller tree is something we must see every year," Hardinger told the Associated Press. "It's so beautiful, and it's fantastic."

What Happens to the Tree When Christmas is Over?

After it is taken down in January, this year's tree will contribute to Habitat for Humanity's home-building project. Since 2007, Rockefeller Center has donated wood from its Christmas trees to the nonprofit organization that helps provide affordable housing .

"Every year, Tishman Speyer [Rockefeller co-owners] generously donates one of the largest and most widely recognized Christmas trees to Habitat," Habitat for Humanity CEO Jonathan Reckford wrote in the organization's latest newsletter.

"The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is a reminder to reflect, be thankful, and to remember to give back to others among the hustle and bustle of the holidays."

History of the Tree and Other NYC Festivities

The Rockefeller Center tree tradition dates back to 1931 when construction workers at the site pooled their money to buy a Christmas tree and decorated it with handmade garlands. Since then, it has taken many forms and gradually grown in extravagance.

Today, the tree is a hallmark of New York City's holiday season.

The display's defining feature is its Swarovski star, first added in 2004 and upgraded in 2018. Architect Daniel Libeskind designed it.

Those wishing to be part of the action on the day the tree arrives can attend family festivities along the center's South Plaza between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on November 9.

This includes reporting from The Associated Press.