The 2023 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree makes its 200-mile journey from Vestal, New York State, to the Big Apple.
The 80-year-old Norway spruce was cut down Thursday morning and loaded onto the back of a flatbed truck for its journey to the Manhattan holiday hotspot.
The tree, donated by the McGinley family of Vestal, is 80 feet tall, 43 feet wide and weighs 23 tons, according to Rockefeller Center.
The Christmas tree is expected to arrive in downtown Manhattan on Saturday and will be decorated with more than 50,000 multi-colored LED lights, topped by a Swarovski star with 3 million crystals.
In addition to the more than five miles of lights, the tree will be crowned with a 9-foot, 900-pound Swarovski star, which was introduced as an ornament for the tree in 2004.
The 80-year-old Norway spruce was cut down Thursday morning and loaded onto the back of a flatbed truck for its journey to the Manhattan holiday hotspot
The tree, donated by the McGinley family of Vestal, is 80 feet tall, 43 feet wide and weighs 23 tons, according to Rockefeller Center.
The decorations will be as breathtaking as in years past, with the tree of the year covered in 50,000 multi-coloured LED lights cascading over the carefully chosen Norway spruce.
The Christmas tree was again chosen by Erik Pauze, 55, Rockefeller Center’s head gardener, who started as a summer helper at Rockefeller Center in 1988 while still a student.
Pause showed up at the McGinley Household on Murray Hill Road a year ago and asked if they were interested in donating their 12-ton Norway spruce, 12 News reported.
“It was a complete surprise,” Jackie McGinley told the outlet. ‘But probably the best surprise of our lives.
“My family has suffered quite a bit of loss in our lives and what we know is that after loss, memories stay with people.
“We’re really excited for people to go to that tree or come to our house and make memories because they’ll take them with them forever.”
Noah McElligott, 10, poses near the wrapped 80-foot Norway spruce that will serve as this year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree
The Christmas tree is expected to arrive in Manhattan on Saturday
As usual, the tree’s grand arrival in New York City will be an extravaganza with activities and events to get people in the festive spirit.
While the giant tree is being erected in the square, children can write letters to Santa and listen to Christmas stories, next to the world-famous ice skating location.
Tishman Speyer, the skyscraper’s owner, announced last week that the selected tree would travel from Vestal to participate in NBC’s annual tradition.
Tishman Speyer is an American real estate investment company founded in 1978 by Robert Tishman and Jerry Speyer. The company acquired Rockefeller in 2000 for $1.85 billion.
Norway spruces are fast-growing evergreen trees that can grow up to 55 meters high and have an average trunk diameter of about 1.5 meters.
Online estimates suggest the impressive Rockefeller tree could cost more than $73,000, but will instead be donated to the center for free.
The Christmas tree was again chosen by Erik Pauze, 55, Rockefeller Center’s head gardener, who started as a summer helper at Rockefeller Center in 1988 while still a student.
Norway spruces are used as the main Christmas tree in several countries around the world.
The popular choice for a Christmas tree can cost between $40 and $1,000 for a typical home decoration.
Online estimates suggest the impressive Rockefeller tree could cost more than $73,000, but will instead be donated to the center for free.
The official Christmas tree lighting is scheduled for November 29. The tree will be on display until 10 p.m. on January 13, 2024.
The tree will be removed and ground into lumber, which since 2007 has been donated to Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit NGO based in Georgia that helps people build, rehabilitate and preserve homes.