The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Is Now Lit For The Season

Hailing from Vestal, NY in the Binghamton region, The Norway spruce is now glittering in more than 50,000 LED lights.

Justine Golata - Senior Staff Writer • November 30, 2023

The 2023 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree — Diane Bondareff / AP Images for Tishman Speyer

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Christmas is coming early this year!

Rockefeller Center announced the selected 2023 Christmas tree earlier in November and it was officially lit for the season on the plaza this past Wednesday. P.S. its even more beautiful than last year’s!

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The tree was cut on November 9th, and arrived at the Rockefeller Center on Saturday, November 11th. The spectacular Norway Spruce hails from Vestal, NY in the Binghamton region.

Erik Pauze, the head gardener for Rockefeller Center and the one responsible for selecting each year’s tree, actually came across this one on his way to check out another option. It tops out at 80 feet tall and is 43 feet in diameter.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree stands lit during the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on Wednesday, Nov., 29, 2023 in New York. The 80-foot tall, 12-ton Norway Spruce from Vestal, NY, is covered with more than 50,000 multi-colored, energy-efficient LED lights. The lit tree will be on display through January 13, 2024 — Diane Bondareff / AP Images for Tishman Speyer

The tree lighting ceremony took place on Wednesday, November 29th. It’s decorated with 50,000 LED lights and topped with a Swarovski crystal star.

If you’re wondering what they do with the tree after the holiday season, rest assured it will be milled into lumber for Habitat for Humanity.

In other news: A Guide To All The Holiday Markets Open In NYC This Season