The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree will again be from upstate New York this holiday season.
A 75-foot-tall, 45-foot-diameter Norway spruce from East Greenbush, Rensselaer County, will be heading 130 miles down to New York City after being cut Nov. 6. It’s the eighth time in the last 10 years the tree has originated from somewhere in the state of New York — most recently from Vestal, Broome County, in 2023.
“As soon as I saw it, I knew it was perfect,” head gardener Erik Pauze said about this year’s tree.
Here’s what to know.
How this year’s Rockefeller Center tree was picked
Two people snap a selfie in front of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in Manhattan on Dec. 24, 2024.
The approximately 75-year-old conifer was donated by the Russ family, who have watched it grow on their property for over 60 years.
“I’m excited to make more cherished memories with my family and childhood friends as it becomes the world’s Christmas tree,” says Judy Russ, who lives in the home the tree is from.
Another Rockefeller Center employee can also claim some credit for its selection because Pauze picked the tree after being shown a photo of it by a security supervisor, leading to a visit to the Russ family’s home. Pauze has made several trips back throughout the year to ensure the tree stayed in prime condition, including watering and caring for it himself.
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When is this year’s tree lighting?
While the tree will arrive in the Big Apple on Nov. 8, visitors will have to wait about a month to take in the dazzling display in all its glory.
According to the Rockefeller Center, this year’s tree lighting ceremony will take place from 7–10 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3.
Adorned in 50,000 LED lights and a 900-pound Swarovski star consisting of 70 spikes covered in over 3 million crystals, it will be a true spectacle throughout the holiday season.
When the season ends in mid-January, the lumber from the tree will be cut and dried at a mill in New Jersey, then shipped to a local Habitat for Humanity affiliate, which is typically in the same state where the tree was grown.
Emily Barnes reports on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network’s New York Connect Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on X and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rockefeller Center Christmas tree 2025: What you need to know
