It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
Rockefeller Center announced Oct. 27 that its iconic Christmas tree for this year will come from East Greenbush, New York, and is being donated by the Russ family.
“I’m excited to make more cherished memories with my family and childhood friends as it becomes the world’s Christmas tree,” Judy Russ, who lives with her 7-year-old son, Liam, told The Center Magazine.
The tree was chosen Rockefeller Center head gardener Erik Pauze, who is tasked with finding the right tree each year.
“As soon as I saw it, I knew it was perfect,” he told The Center Magazine.
Gauze also says a tree has a tall order to fill.
“What I look for is a tree you’d want in your living room, but on a grander scale,” he said. “It needs to make people smile the second they see it.”
This year will continue a tradition dating back nearly a century: In 1931, construction workers who were building Rockefeller Center put up a Christmas tree, marking the first time the tree made an appearance at the famed New York City locale. Two years later, the first-ever Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Ceremony took place.
Here are the key facts you need to know about this year’s tree.
What kind of tree is it?
The tree will be a 75-year-old Norway spruce.
What are the tree’s dimensions?
The tree stands 75 feet tall, measures 45 feet in diameter and weighs 11 tons.
When will the tree get to Rockefeller Center?
The tree is scheduled to be cut Nov. 6 and arrive at Rockefeller Center on Nov. 8.
What kind of lights will be on the tree?
The tree will be adorned with 50,000 multi-colored, energy efficient LED lights on roughly five miles of wire and topped with a Swarovski star that weighs approximately 900 pounds.
The star, which is more than nine feet in diameter, will also have 70 spikes covered by three million crystals.
When will the tree be lit?
The tree will be lit during the live “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” special broadcast on Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. ET. on NBC.
What will happen to the tree after Christmas?
The tree will remain on display at Rockefeller Center until the middle of January. After that, it will be turned into lumber used for Habitat for Humanity.
