Photo: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP / Getty Images
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree for 2025 will once again come from the Capital Region, specifically East Greenbush. Donated by the Russ family, the 75-foot Norway spruce has been part of their property for over 60 years. The tree will be cut on November 6 and transported to New York City, arriving on November 8.
Once in Midtown Manhattan, the tree will be adorned with 50,000 multi-colored LED lights and topped with a 900-pound Swarovski star. The tree lighting ceremony, a beloved New York holiday tradition dating back to 1933, will take place on December 3 during the live "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" broadcast on NBC.
The tree was selected by Erik Pauze, Rockefeller Center's head gardener, who described it as perfect for the occasion. "It needs to make people smile the second they see it," Pauze said. The tree will remain on display until mid-January 2026, after which it will be milled into lumber for Habitat for Humanity, continuing a tradition that began in 2007.
This year's tree is expected to draw millions of visitors, uniting people from around the world in the spirit of the holiday season. The tree's journey from East Greenbush to Rockefeller Center symbolizes the enduring spirit of community and giving.