Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Arrives in New York City

This year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree reached Midtown Manhattan on Saturday morning, completing a 200-mile journey from upstate New York. The Norway Spruce comes from West Edmeston, stands 76 feet tall and weighs 11 tons. It was cut down on Thursday, lowered by crane onto a 100-foot trailer and driven to the plaza, where the truck turned in at about 7:30 a.m. as hundreds of people watched.

The family that donated the tree helped crew members drive a spike into the trunk with a sledgehammer, an annual tradition. A crane then raised the tree and secured it in its stand. Scaffolding will soon go up so crews can wrap it in 50,000 lights and add a 900-pound Swarovski star. The first official look comes with the airing of "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" on Wednesday, Dec. 2, on NBC and Peacock.

Head gardener Erik Pauze, who has chosen the tree for more than 30 years, first spotted it six years ago. Earlier this year he knocked on the door of owner Rebecca Decker, a mother of three, who thought he was joking.

The plaza also held "Meet the Tree Day" workshops and is marking the 90th season of The Rink at Rockefeller Center. "The Elf Experience" opens Nov. 14 at HERO in Rockefeller Center. The tree will stay up until Jan. 9, 2027, and will then be milled into lumber for Habitat for Humanity. New greenery will be planted on Decker's property.