This Year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Comes From Upstate New York — Here’s When You Can See It

This holiday season, all eyes will be on a New Yorker who will take center stage in Manhattan: the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. And this year it comes from East Greenbush, New York.

The New York native tree from a suburb just south of Albany marks a return to a tree born and raised in the Empire State after the 2024 version arrived from Massachusetts. The Norway spruce, 75 feet tall and 45 feet in diameter, will travel about 130 miles, arriving at the famous plaza on November 8.

“As soon as I saw it, I knew it was perfect,” Erik Pauze, Rockefeller Center’s head gardener, said in a statement, adding, “What I’m looking for is a tree that you would want to have in your living room, but on a larger scale… it needs to make people smile the moment they see it.”

For more than three decades, Pauze has chosen the city’s most iconic Christmas tree. Selections come from across the East Coast, including New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Seven of the last ten have been from New York state. And this year, the winning tree came to him by chance, as a photo was given to him by a Rockefeller Center security supervisor.

The large tree, which has grown for decades on the Russ family’s property upstate, has been an integral part of the family’s milestones, but lifelong New Yorkers are eager to share its joy with the world.

“I am excited to create more treasured memories with my family and childhood friends as it becomes the world’s Christmas tree,” Judy Russ said in the statement.

After making the long trip to New York City, the tree will be prepared for display and given a bright glow that includes 50,000 colorful (but energy-efficient) LED lights. It will then be topped with the crown jewel, a Swarovski star with 3 million crystals and 70 glass spikes, shining with an intensity of 106,000 lumens that has been described as bright enough to “turn night into day.” according to New York City Tourism + Conventions.

The Russ family tree will officially be transformed into the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree on Wednesday, December 3 during the live broadcast of “Christmas at Rockefeller Center.” The special will air on NBC and Peacock at 8 p.m. ET and will be hosted by country music icon Reba McEntire, who will also perform.

Although the three-time Grammy winner is synonymous with the holidays, this will be her first time in town for Christmas.

“Seeing all the Christmas decorations and being a part of the Rockefeller Center tree lighting ceremony is something I’ve always wanted to do and I’m honored to be asked to do it,” McEntire. said People.

Visitors to Rockefeller Center will also be able to enjoy unique and never-before-seen ways to experience the tree this season. In particular, those who visit 30 Rock’s Top of the Rock observation deck between December 4 and January 10 will be able to access right under the tree for a close-up photo.

Also making its debut this year is the Meet The Tree event, featuring FAO Schwarz and Peanuts on the tree’s arrival day, November 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Throughout Rockefeller Center there will be Christmas festivities, including those in honor of the 60th anniversary of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Featured opportunities include photo moments with Snoopy at Top of the Rock and a Build-A-Bear “heart ceremony” with Snoopy Bears. Registration for the free event is full, but a The waitlist is still open on Eventbrite..

There are also plenty of ways to toast the holiday season through tree ownership, whether ice skating at The Rink at Rockefeller Center, relaxing at Après Skate Chalets overlooking the tree and rink, or meeting Santa as he hangs above the city, posing for photos at Top of the Rock’s The Beam.

With so much going on, Michael Che of “Saturday Night Live” gave Travel + Leisure a tried and true tip for the holiday season. “It’s pretty full,” Che said. “If you want to get into 30 Rock, go straight through the subway station and avoid all the people.”

But of course, everything must come to an end. The lights will shine until mid-January before being removed and turned into wood that will be donated to Habitat for Humanity.