Amid a chaotic year, many of us are looking forward to indulging in holiday cheer a bit more this Christmas, so count on Rockefeller Center to continue its beloved tradition. The 2020 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has officially been selected and will be chopped down and trucked into Manhattan this week, organizers announced Wednesday.
The 75-foot-tall, 11-ton Norway Spruce hails from Oneonta, New York, and has been donated by Al Dick, the owner of Daddy Al’s General Store in Oneonta. The 2020 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is between 75 and 80 years old.
The tree is about 2 feet smaller and 1 ton lighter than last year’s tree, which came from Florida, New York. Last year’s also featured a newly redesigned star, made in a collaboration between Swarovski Crystals and architect Daniel Libeskind. The star alone weighed approximately 900 pounds and was covered in 3 million crystals.
The massive tree will be hoisted by “a huge crane” onto a 115-foot-long trailer before starting its voyage into the Big Apple where it will be erected on Saturday.
No public access to this year’s lighting ceremony
There will be no public access to this year’s tree lighting ceremony, however, you’re invited to view the live national broadcast “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” from home on NBC. Details about how to visit the lit Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Rockefeller Center ice skating rink will open on Nov. 21, and will limit the number of people on the ice. The rink will also close far earlier in the season compared to other years, with Jan. 17 as its last day.
Typical holiday staples, like Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, featuring the high-kicking Rockettes, have been canceled while Bryant Park’s Winter Village implemented new safety protocols to open last month. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will also have a whole new look to it, as crowds won’t be able to view it in person but there will be a modified version to see on TV the morning of Nov. 26.
It’s estimated that more than 125 million people visit Rockefeller Center during the holiday season. But with tourism stalled amid the coronavirus pandemic, it’s unlikely the usual holiday frenzy will appear this year.
