If you listen closely, you can just make out the faint melodies of Christmas songs playing through shop speakers and carols ringing through city streets. In other words, the holiday season is gaining momentum, and with it comes New York City’s festive focal point: the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Some advice: break out those Santa hats because it’s set to arrive in NYC very soon.
This year’s Norway Spruce hails from the charmingly small upstate town of East Greenbush.
Donated by the Russ family, the 11-ton showstopper will be cut down tomorrow, Thursday, November 6th at 8 am, and hoisted by a huge crane onto a 100-foot-long trailer.
The chosen tree stands a whopping 75-foot-tall and measures 45-foot-diameter, and though it doesn’t even come close to taking the crown as the tallest tree displayed at Rockefeller–that was the 1999 tree, which stood a whopping 100 feet tall–we’re sure it’ll still do a fabulous job spreading holiday cheer!
2025-2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree NYC arrival date
After a journey down south on its royal chariot (a flatbed truck) this season’s majestic Norway Spruce will arrive at Rockefeller Center this weekend, on Saturday, November 8th. Those interested in getting a first look can attend Rockefeller Center’s Meet The Tree Day 2025, a family-friendly event involving arts and crafts and seasonal entertainment.
Once adorned with 50,000+ multi-colored lights and topped with the iconic 9-foot, 900-pound Swarovski star, the tree will light up in all its jolly glittering glory on Wednesday, December 3rd as part of the live broadcast of “Christmas in Rockefeller Center.”
The tree will remain on display through mid-January 2026. At the close of the season it’ll be milled into lumber for Habitat for Humanity.
As we await the tree’s arrival, you can test your tree knowledge with these 10 facts about the iconic tree you probably didn’t know. And, if you’re looking to avoid the crowds come Christmastime, check out the best time to visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
Once in the Rockefeller Center area, be sure to get started on your holiday shopping at the nearby Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park. Hell, make a whole night of it and hangout in these cozy après skate chalets as well!