Rockefeller Center’s Annual Transformation
This past Saturday, Rockefeller Center welcomed its towering Christmas tree, signaling the start of the holiday season in Midtown.
Even with some early rain, plenty of people gathered to watch as the impressive 75-foot fir was raised into its iconic position.
“It’s surreal! I’ve seen it before at Christmas time, but it’s amazing to see the process,” said LeAnn Garza, 36, who traveled from South Texas with her friend Kaissa Trevino specifically for this experience. “It will definitely be part of your New York City memories!”
Kaissa, 33, echoed her sentiments. “It’s my first time. I’m really looking forward to seeing it go up. I’ve always wanted to see that since I was a kid,” she said. “I knew it would be big, but not this big.”
Jessica Olson from Pennsylvania and her daughter Bailey, a college student, felt thrilled as they watched the preparations unfold. “I didn’t think it was real. I didn’t think it was that big. It’s just incredible,” said Bailey, 18. “I can’t wait to see what it looks like when it’s fully decorated. It’s going to be gorgeous!”
Her mom also admired the scene. “It’s great to see all the people involved under the tree. There’s a lot of people you wouldn’t expect helping out,” the 48-year-old observed. “It feels like the beginning of the Christmas season. It feels festive.”
Former schoolteacher Dominique Perrault, who woke up at 5 a.m. for this “once in a lifetime experience,” reflected on her excitement. Living across the East River in Astoria, she had never seen the tree’s arrival before. “I like the size, the length, the journey, where it came from and the excitement. The little pine cones are fascinating,” said the 74-year-old. “It felt so inviting and looked so big against the backdrop of New York’s hustle and bustle, representing peace and tranquility.”
The hefty spruce, which had been home in upstate New York for 75 years, arrived just after being cut down from its original location.
The tree was donated by Judy Russ and her young son Liam in memory of her husband Dan, who passed away at 32 in 2020. This was a dream they shared, to have their tree light up Rockefeller Center one day, and Judy made it her mission to fulfill that vision.
The tree, planted on their property by Dan’s great-grandparents, was officially cut down on Thursday and will be illuminated with 50,000 lights during the annual lighting ceremony on December 3rd.
