the staff of the Ridgewood blog
New York NY , the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is an iconic symbol of the holiday season in New York City. Each year, a grand tree is selected and displayed in the plaza at Rockefeller Center. Here are some key details about this year’s tree:
The tree is coming from Vestal, New York.
It is estimated to be 80 to 85 years old.
The tree weighs 12 tons and stands at about 80 feet tall and 43 feet wide.
The tree is scheduled to arrive at Rockefeller Center Plaza on November 11, accompanied by a festive ceremony that includes book readings, letters to Santa, and ornament making.
Erik Pauze, the head gardener at the Rockefeller Center, has been responsible for selecting the Christmas tree for the past 30 years. He plays a crucial role in the process, from finding the tree to caring for it and transporting it to its iconic location. Pauze looks for a tree that has a perfect shape and can instantly bring joy and happiness to those who see it.
The chosen trees for the Rockefeller Center are typically Norway spruces due to their size and sturdiness. The 1999 tree, which was the largest so far, stood at 100 feet tall and came from Killingworth, Connecticut.
The tree will be decorated with over 50,000 lights, covering approximately five miles of wire. It will also be topped by a star with 70 spikes, made of 3 million Swarovski crystals, and weighing about 900 pounds. This Swarovski Star was first introduced in 2004.
The annual lighting ceremony for the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is a highly anticipated event and will air on NBC at 8 p.m. ET on November 29. The tree will remain on display until January 13, 2024.
The tradition of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree began in 1931, with employees decorating a 20-foot balsam fir. It evolved into an annual tradition with an official lighting ceremony two years later. The adjacent ice skating rink was introduced in 1936, adding to the charm and festive atmosphere of the holiday season in the heart of New York City.
I bet Vestal NY doesnt have the foolish requirement to pay for a tree removal and replacement permit
I don’t think just plant a tree and be done with it, instead of dealing with all this bullshit every year, finding a tree, removing the tree, transporting the tree, installing the tree, putting the lights up, then take the lights off, and remove the tree come on Unnecessary. Maybe someone’s charging the town or not, but it’s not being done for free probably a barter system enough already.
Someone said Ho-Ho-Kus has a huge artificial tree for their holidays. No tree gets killed. Used year after year
not sure a plastic tree is better for the environment
Exactly just plant a tree and be done with it. We don’t need to hassle every year.
Chris is right
What kind of hassle is it for you, Chris?
Chris is wrong again.
Sad. This practice of cutting trees has to stop.
the tree was going to be cut down anyway , like the Ridgewood tree besides the Village is going to clear cut the Schedler Property so lots of trees to choose from
“Sad. This practice of cutting trees has to stop.”
Your ignorance is stunning… but not surprising.