Rockefeller Christmas tree gets send off in tiny Massachusetts town

Tree from Massachusetts picked for Rockefeller Center Christmas display 00:23

WEST STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — This year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree comes with a strong New England accent, and locals could not be more excited.

The Norway spruce that will travel to New York City hails from West Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It was scheduled to be cut down Thursday and make the roughly 140-mile journey south, arriving Nov. 9 in midtown Manhattan.

Rockefeller Center Christmas tree

The tree will be lit during a live TV broadcast on Dec. 4, featuring 50,000 multi-colored lights with a Swarovski star on top and remain on display until mid-January.

According to the “Today” show, the tree is being donated by the Albert family in West Stockbridge. Rockefeller Center head gardener Erik Pauze first spotted the tree in 2020, he said.

Local residents were flocking to the tree this week, which was planted 67 years ago in honor of the homeowner’s nieces and several workers could be seen high up in the 11-ton tree, tying up its branches for a trip down south.

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