No need to wait until December to get into the holiday spirit, folks. Rockefeller Center is already decking the halls with an announcement that's giving us all the jingle bell rock vibes. From the quiet town of East Greenbush, NY, a towering 75-foot Norway spruce is prepped to take center stage in one of the most iconic holiday traditions in New York City. This arboreal giant, on loan from the Russ family, tips the scales at 11 tons and is set to make its grand entrance into the city on November 8, ABC7NY reports.
But before it lights up the Big Apple, the spruce has a date with destiny--or at least with a chainsaw--on November 6. Once in NYC, it's going to get a serious glow-up. Imagine more than 50,000 LED lights stretching for almost five miles, all topped off with a Swarovski star that's not only 9 feet tall but also blinged out with three million crystals. Judy Russ, the owner of the tree, told NBC New York, “I’m excited to make more cherished memories with my family and childhood friends as it becomes the world’s Christmas tree.” Yeah, not every family's tree gets to be the world’s Christmas tree, so you bet those memories will shimmer.
The lighting of this Norway Spruce is slated for December 3, in a ceremony that's as quintessential to NYC's holiday tradition as impatient cab honking on 5th avenue. If you can tear yourself away from your own tree-trimming or eggnog imbibing, tune in to NBC's "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" at 7 p.m. ET to catch the live event. And it's not just for the New Yorkers—viewers across the country can stream the spectacle on Peacock and NBC 4 New York.
Once the holidays have come and gone, the tree will embark on its final charitable act. It will be milled into lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity, making this festive symbol a gift that keeps on giving.
