It’s tiiiiii—okay, maybe not quite yet. New Yorkers are gearing up to get their Halloween costumes on this weekend, and the air is still what we’d wholeheartedly consider sweater weather. But while the city gets into the spooky spirit, one integral part of New York’s holiday season is preparing to make its big journey.
Even before the first trick-or-treater has hit the streets, one of the city’s most beloved Christmas traditions is already taking shape: the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is officially coming from upstate New York.
This year, the iconic tree is making its way to Manhattan from West Edmeston, a small hamlet tucked away in central New York. Soon, the towering Norway spruce will trade its quiet upstate surroundings for the bright lights of Midtown, becoming the centerpiece of one of the city’s most recognizable holiday displays.
Here’s everything to know about this year’s tree and the little-known community that will soon be sharing a piece of its home with New York City.
The 2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is coming from West Edmeston, NY
What began in 1931 as a humble gesture by construction workers, who pooled their money to purchase a 20-foot balsam fir and decorated it with handmade garlands, has since become one of NYC’s most beloved holiday traditions.
The first official tree-lighting ceremony followed in 1933, and today, the towering evergreen draws visitors from around the world to Rockefeller Plaza each holiday season. This year, the tradition continues with a 75-year-old Norway spruce from West Edmeston, which will arrive in Manhattan on November 7 before taking center stage at the December 2 lighting ceremony.
- Tree Details: 75-year-old Norway spruce, standing 76 feet tall, 50 feet in diameter, and weighing approximately 11 tons
- Transport Schedule: Cut down on Thursday, November 5; arrives at Rockefeller Center on Saturday, November 7
- Decorations: Over 50,000 multicolored LED lights topped with the iconic Swarovski star
- Tree Lighting Ceremony: Wednesday, December 2 (live broadcast on Christmas in Rockefeller Center)
- Display Period: On view through January 9, 2027
- Post-Holiday Legacy: Milled into lumber for Habitat for Humanity to build and restore homes
Why West Edmeston? Meet the charming upstate community behind NYC’s Christmas tree
While millions of people will soon gather around this year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, its roots lie in a much quieter corner of New York State.
West Edmeston is a small hamlet along the Unadilla River, situated on the border of Madison and Otsego counties. Far removed from Manhattan’s bustling streets and towering skyscrapers, the community offers a glimpse of a different side of New York: one shaped by rural landscapes, local history, and small-community life.
The surrounding Town of Edmeston has roots stretching back to the late 18th century. Today, the hamlet’s location along the Unadilla River is part of the broader rural landscape of central New York, where winding waterways, rolling terrain, and quieter communities offer a striking contrast to the city that will soon welcome its most famous evergreen.
How to see the 2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
You won’t have to travel to central New York to see the tree that started its journey there!
- Location: Rockefeller Plaza (between 5th & 6th Avenues, New York, NY)
- Arrival Date: Saturday, November 7
- Lighting Ceremony: Wednesday, December 2 (broadcast live during Christmas in Rockefeller Center)
- Display Dates: November 7 through January 9, 2027
- Best Times to Visit: Weekdays or early mornings to avoid peak crowds
Don’t miss out! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and now on WhatsApp, too!