Every holiday season in New York City, one tree transforms Midtown Manhattan into a beacon of wonder. Towering over Rockefeller Plaza, the Rockefeller Christmas Tree glows with 50,000 LED lights, embodying the spirit of unity, renewal, and joy.

This year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, a 75-foot-tall Norway spruce from East Greenbush, New York, carries a story rooted in family and tradition. Donated by the Russ family, the tree has been part of their property for over 60 years, serving as the backdrop for countless celebrations.

“Donating the tree is a way to honor my late husband Dan and all our family members who have passed,” says Judy Russ, who lives in the historic family home with her 7-year-old son, Liam.

The tree, estimated to be about 75 years old, will be cut on November 6, 2025, and make the 130-mile journey to Rockefeller Center. Once it arrives on November 8, crews will carefully raise it into place on Rockefeller Plaza, marking the start of one of New York’s most famous holiday traditions.

The Man Behind the Magic

For over three decades, head gardener Erik Pauze has been the force behind finding the most famous Christmas tree in the world. Known for his sharp eye and deep love of horticulture, Pauze scouts potential trees year-round across New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and beyond.

“What I look for is a tree you’d want in your living room, but on a grander scale,” Pauze says. “It needs to make people smile the second they see it.”

It was Pauze who first visited the Russ family’s property after a photo of the tree made its way to him through a Rockefeller Center security supervisor.

“As soon as I saw it, I knew it was perfect,” he recalls. Pauze even returned several times throughout the year to water and care for the tree himself.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, which is broadcast live on NBC, is a beloved New York holiday tradition dating back to 1933, when construction workers first erected a small tree at the site during the Center’s construction. Since then, the lighting has evolved into an international event, signaling the official start of the holiday season in NYC. This year’s tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, December 3, from 7 to 10 pm, followed by weeks of visitors gathering beneath the Swarovski star and along the nearby ice skating rink at Top of the Rock.

After the tree takes its place at Rockefeller Center, visitors can take in the magic up close by skating beneath it at The Rink, New York City’s most iconic winter destination. Few experiences capture the spirit of the season quite like gliding across the ice with the glowing tree overhead. Skating at The Rink is a timeless holiday tradition shared by generations.

A Star Worthy of the Season

Atop this year’s tree will sit the dazzling Swarovski star, designed by architect Daniel Libeskind in 2018. The three-dimensional structure weighs 900 pounds and spans over nine feet in diameter, with 70 spikes covered in more than 3 million crystals. When the tree finally lights up, the spectacle illuminates Midtown with the glow of nearly five miles of wire—a breathtaking sight that captures the heart of New Yorkers and visitors alike.

To commemorate the season with a lasting keepsake, guests can reserve The Official Christmas Tree Photo, an exclusive photo experience that offers the most iconic view of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. It’s the perfect way to preserve your holiday memories at Rockefeller Center.

From Holiday Icon to Habitat for Humanity

When the season ends in mid-January, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree begins a new life. Since 2007, the lumber from each year’s tree has been donated to Habitat for Humanity, where it’s milled into beams and used to build homes across the country.

“The wood from a Norway spruce is flexible and durable, which makes it ideal for flooring, furniture, and framing,” a Habitat for Humanity spokesperson explains. The tree is first transported to a mill in New Jersey, where it’s cut and dried before being shipped to a local Habitat affiliate, often in the same state where the tree was grown.

As Pauze notes, the journey of each tree extends far beyond its display in Rockefeller Plaza: “Every tree we select not only brings joy to New Yorkers during the holiday season, but it also continues to give back long after it leaves Rockefeller Center. Knowing it will help build homes for families makes the process even more meaningful.”

In past years, beams from Rockefeller Center trees have helped build homes in Connecticut, Philadelphia, and Mississippi. Some families even have pieces stamped with the tree’s original Rockefeller insignia—an enduring reminder that one beloved holiday icon can continue spreading joy and shelter long after the lights have dimmed.

The Tree That Brings New York Together

Standing 75 feet tall and 45 feet in diameter, the 2025 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will once again unite New Yorkers and travelers from around the world beneath its glowing branches. For the Russ family, for Erik Pauze, and for millions who gather at Rockefeller Plaza or tune in from home, this year’s tree is a reminder that love, light, and community can grow from the roots of family and history.

When the final strand of LED lights is switched on during the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, it will mark more than just the start of another New York holiday season. It will celebrate the enduring spirit of the city, and the people who keep it shining bright, year after year.

For those who’ve always dreamed of seeing the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree up close, the VIP Rock Pass: Holiday Edition makes that wish come true. It’s the only experience that brings guests to Center Plaza (an area normally closed to the public) for an intimate view beneath the glowing branches. The evening includes a Champagne toast in the VIP Lounge, a visit to one of Rockefeller Center’s hidden rooftop gardens, and private access to SKYLIFT and The Beam Experience at Top of the Rock.