Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Cut Down Upstate
This year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree was cut down on Thursday morning near Albany, New York, ahead of its journey to Midtown Manhattan for the annual tree lighting early next month.
Community Gathers for the Event
Hundreds of people gathered in East Greenbush, about 2.5 hours north of Manhattan, to watch the Norway Spruce being felled.
Experienced Gardener Selects the Tree
Erik Pauze, the head gardener for Rockefeller Center, has been choosing the tree for nearly 40 years.
“I love how everybody gets all excited about it, I love the town being excited,” he said.
Owner's Family History with the Tree
The tree’s owner, Judy Russ, who is originally from Middle Village, Queens, described the moment as a "full circle moment."
“This tree has been on my husband’s family’s property since the 1920s,” she explained. “My husband’s great grandparents were the people who planted it. For this to now become the center of New York City Christmas is incredible.”
Preparation for the Tree Lighting
The tree was loaded onto a truck for transport to 30 Rock, where it will be decorated with over 50,000 lights and topped with a Swarovski star for the lighting ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, December.
Author’s summary: The historic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, rooted in a family legacy since the 1920s, was recently cut upstate and is now en route to NYC, ready to shine brightly this holiday season.