The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lights the 2025 Holiday Season in New York City
- December 3, 2025
- By Alice Knisley Matthias
It’s beginning to look a lot like the holiday season in New York City and one of the most famous symbols of the festivities will light up the night this week. With over 50,000 twinkling lights ready to shine, the Rockefeller Christmas tree will officially be lit on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 with entertainment and crowds ready to cheer and kick off the holidays.
Each year a tree is scouted and selected to be the center of the Rockefeller Center decorations and display and this year’s Norway Spruce comes from the property of the Russ family in East Greenbush, New York. It arrived on November 8 and carefully made its way down the Plaza with the annual Meet the Tree Day celebrations.
When Judy and her seven-year-old son Liam visited last year’s tree at Rockefeller Center they never imagined that one in their backyard would be the center of all the celebrations the following year.
You can read our Kids Discover article about last year’s Rockefeller Tree here.
Judy and her late husband often joked about how difficult it would be to decorate the enormous Norway Spruce on their property which is in the background of family photos through the years for the holidays, birthdays, summer picnics and weddings. The tree is now 75-feet-tall and approximately 75-years-old.
With the dream of a family tree being chosen for Rockefeller Center, Judy submitted a photo for consideration in July 2025 to head gardener Erik Pauze and after a visit to the tree in person it was chosen for this year’s holiday season.
“Donating the tree is a way to honor my late husband Dan and all our family members who have passed,” Judy says. “I’m excited to make more cherished memories with my family and childhood friends as it becomes the world’s Christmas tree.”
Judy grew up in Queens, New York and remembers visiting the Rockefeller Center tree at holiday time.
Liam, an elementary school student and football player, can’t wait to have his friends and classmates celebrate the season with the tree from his very own backyard for the 2025 holiday celebrations!
The 2025 Tree Lighting takes place on Wednesday, December 3, from 7:00–10:00 p.m. at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
All the magic happens in person at Rockefeller Plaza during the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 3, 2025. At 10:00 p.m. EST, the Tree’s 50,000 multicolored lights and gleaming Swarovski star will be illuminated for the first time—officially ushering in the holiday season.
You can bake some cookies and watch at home with the “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” broadcast live on NBC from 7:00–10:00 p.m. EST.
