Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Arrives in New York

• The tree weighs 11 tons and measures over 75 feet tall.
• The lighting of the tree will take place on December 3 during a live broadcast.
• The tree was donated by the Rass family, who planted it in the 1920s.

On November 8, 2025, the Rockefeller Center tree arrived in Manhattan, marking the symbolic start of the holiday season in New York City. This year's tree is a 75-foot (23 meter) tall Norway spruce, which was grown in East Greenbush, just outside Albany.

The tree was cut down at the beginning of the week and traveled nearly 150 miles (240 kilometers) on a flatbed truck, attracting the interest of passersby. On 30 Rock, where the tree will be raised by cranes, numerous viewers gathered to watch the process of its installation.

The tree weighs 11 tons and has a diameter of 45 feet (approximately 14 meters). It will be adorned with over 50,000 energy-efficient LED lights and topped with a Swarovski star weighing 900 pounds (408 kilograms). The official lighting of the tree will take place on December 3 during a live broadcast on NBC.

The tree was donated by the Rass family, who stated that the tree was planted by their ancestors in the 1920s. Judy Rass, one of the donors, mentioned that their family’s tradition of becoming part of the Rockefeller legacy has become a reality.

The lighting ceremony attracts thousands of people who gather on the streets of Manhattan. After the holidays, the tree will be recycled into lumber for a charitable organization, Habitat for Humanity.

Tags: USA/Culture