Rockefeller Center’s Christmas Tree Selected

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.

The iconic Christmas tree for Rockefeller Center has been chosen, hailing from a farm near Albany, around 130 miles north of New York City. The announcement was made on Monday.

This impressive 11-ton, 75-foot-tall Norway spruce tree was generously donated by the Russ family, who planted it over 60 years ago on their historic farm in Rensselaer County. It’s a return to sourcing trees from New York after last year’s tree came from West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, home of the Red Sox.

“For generations, Norway Spruce has stood as the backdrop for family milestones, and now it is becoming part of a tradition that belongs to all of us,” Rockefeller Center shared on Instagram.

Judy Russ, who lives at the farm with her 7-year-old son Liam, expressed her excitement, saying, “This Christmas tree will become the world’s Christmas tree, so I’m looking forward to making even more precious memories with my family and childhood friends.”

The tree will be cut down in East Greenbush on November 6 and is expected to arrive in the city two days later, ready to be decked out with over 50,000 multicolored LED lights and a 900-pound Swarovski crystal star, just in time for the annual lighting ceremony on December 3.

This cherished tradition will be on display at 30 Rockefeller Center until mid-January, after which the tree will be repurposed into lumber for Habitat for Humanity.

Since its inception back in 1931, when workers erected Christmas trees during the construction of Rockefeller Center, the event has featured many notable Norway spruces over the years.

Eric Pause, who oversees the search for the tree each year as the head gardener at Rockefeller Center, discovered this particular spruce while exploring various locations along the East Coast. He was guided to the upstate farm after receiving a photo from the center’s security director.

“It needs to make people smile as soon as they see it,” Pause said. Upon first sighting, he knew it was just right. Since then, he has made multiple visits to ensure its well-being throughout the summer.

Pause explained his criteria, stating, “What I’m looking for is a tree that you’d want in your living room, but on a grander scale. It has to be something that makes people smile the moment they see it.”