Guess What? The Rockefeller Christmas Tree Isn’t From New York This Year!
Hold on to your Santa hats guys, because this year the Rockefeller Christmas Tree is coming from a new location and it is not from New York. The Rockefeller Christmas Tree is headed to New York City all the way from West Stockbridge, Massachusetts! It's a bit of a change from the usual New York spots.
This year, it'll be a 11-ton Norway Spruce standing 74-feet tall and 43-feet wide. The tree is set to make its grand entrance later this month in Manhattan ahead of the big lighting event.
So mark your calendars for December 4th at 7 p.m. because that's when the magical tree lighting show will be taking place. You can catch the live broadcast on NBC's "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" show.
The festivities are kicking off early on Saturday, November 9th when the tree arrives at Rockefeller Center. There will activities for the whole family to enjoy, from performances of kid-friendly holiday classics to face painting and even the chance to write letters to Santa.
After the tree arrives, more than 50,000 multi-colored LEDs will be put up to dazzle the crowds with about 5 miles of wire. Let's not forget the crowning jewel - a 9-foot, 900-pound Swarovski star covered in 3 million crystals!
By the way, this isn't the first time the Rockefeller Christmas Tree has ventured out of its usual turf. In 2007, the tree was lit with energy-efficient LEDs for the first time, paving the way for more sustainable celebrations in the future.
Did you know that in 1966, a tree from Canada made its way to Rockefeller Center, marking the farthest distance a tree has ever traveled for the event? While the tree may be from Massachusetts this year, the spirit of Christmas in Rockefeller Center remains as magical as ever.
You may remember that last year's Rockefeller Christmas Tree came from Broome County. Here is how that trip looked.