The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Has Been Selected; Here's All You Need To Know

The iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has been selected and is scheduled to make its way to New York City next week. The grand lighting ceremony, hosted by Kelly Clarkson, is set for November 29, when the tree will take center stage in all its festive splendor.

The McGinley family from the Binghamton area generously donated this year's tree, a Norway spruce that is 80 feet tall and 43 feet in diameter.

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It originally came from Vestal, New York, about 190 miles northwest of NYC.

Currently, the tree stands over a residential driveway basketball hoop. Still, it will be cut down on November 9 and transported to Rockefeller Center two days later, on the morning of Veteran's Day.

The spruce, adorned with 50,000 LED bulbs stretching 5 miles long, will continue brightening Rockefeller Center until January 13.

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Selecting this particular tree was a fortunate choice, according to Erik Pauze, the head gardener at Rockefeller Center, who has the delightful task of picking it each year.

Constructed in 1939, the art deco masterpiece that is Midtown's "city within a city" is experiencing a renaissance. It now features redesigned public areas and some of the city's most talked-about restaurants.

"I found the tree in Vestal, New York, when I was on my way to look at another tree not too far away. I had driven to the other tree and took a slow road back, and I saw this one," he told the Center Magazine last month.

"I went back this spring and decided to knock... The McGinley family told me that not too long before I knocked on the door, someone told them, 'That looks like a Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.' "

They made the right choice. Pauze pointed out that this Norway spruce has the perfect shape and ideal height.

He only had to trim the branches up to 5 or 6 feet. It's a beautifully shaped tree that looks stunning against the blue sky when viewed from the street.

Spectators will get an even more vibrant view of the tree and skating rink from the recently renovated lower indoor concourse at Rockefeller Center. This area is easily accessible from the subway, surrounding streets, and elevators.

It features glass windows that allow natural light in and provide open views of the plaza, thanks to a 360-degree walkway that connects all sides of the lower level.

Architect Adam Rolston previously described the old design as a confusing maze with no visual access to the rink from the lower level.

However, the recent renovations have transformed the space into a more welcoming and open area.

For those unable to see the tree in person, "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" will be broadcast live on NBC stations and livestreamed on Peacock on November 29, starting at 8 p.m. ET.

Additionally, all NBC-owned stations and many NBC affiliates nationwide will air an extra live hour of the special, beginning at 7 p.m. ET. Viewers can check their local listings for details.

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