The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree 2025:
This year's 75-foot Norway Spruce 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. “I’m excited to make more cherished memories with my family and childhood friends as it becomes the world’s Christmas tree,” 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 Center Plaza, marking the start of one of New York’s most famous holiday traditions.
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 broadcasts 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 NBC on Wednesday, December 3, from 7–10 p.m., followed by weeks of visitors gathering beneath the Swarovski star and along the iconic Rink at Rockefeller Center.
(Last year's Christmas tree is below. And it IS called a
Christmas tree, not a holiday tree, or whatever is politically correct nowadays.)