The tree, which stands 74 foot tall, will arrive in NYC November 9th

With the holidays just around the corner, a staple of the season has been announced -- The Rockefeller Tree.  It was announced Monday on NBC's Today and on X that the 2024 Rockefeller Tree has been selected to be displayed and illuminated at 30 Rock during the holiday season.

And it's a tree close by, belonging to a family living in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts.   

Meet the 2024 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree 🎄 This year’s Tree comes from West Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Weighing about 11 tons and standing 74 feet tall, The Tree will arrive on Saturday, 11/9. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates: https://t.co/prpPHsQ78o pic.twitter.com/SbrEp1Rjm9

— Rockefeller Center (@rockcenternyc) October 28, 2024

It is the first time in 65 years that the Rockefeller Tree chosen comes from the Bay State.  According to the head gardener for the Rockefeller Plaza, Erik Pauze, the idea for this Western New England tree originated 4 years ago.  In an interview done for the Rockefeller Center's magazine, Pauze mentions that he was tree hunting in the middle of summer in 2020, and after an overnight stay, noticed a striking Blue Spruce which prompted him to get in contact with the owners of the home to see if they would donate the tree for the holiday season.

Without a thought, the owners agreed, and the tree will be cut up and shipped down to Rockefeller Plaza where it will be prepped with 50,000 lights and 5 miles of wire in preparation for its lighting just after Thanksgiving on a special broadcast to be aired on NBC.  It will be topped by a nine-foot-tall star containing over 3 million Swarovski crystals.

It's not the first tree to come from the area.   In 2022, the iconic tree came from Queensbury.  Last year's was from the Southern Tier, in Binghamton.