NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Midtown Manhattan is beginning to look a lot like Christmas after an 80-foot Norway Spruce was delivered and raised at Rockefeller Plaza Saturday morning.
After being cut down in Vestal, NY, on Thursday night, the 2023 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree made the 200-mile trek to its place of honor.
The 12-ton tree was delivered to the Plaza by a flatbed truck and raised by crane, which hoisted it tall next to the ice rink.
Jackie McGinley and her family, of Vestal, donated this year’s tree.
“It was probably one of the easiest decisions we’ve ever made, because the idea of being able to bring joy to millions of people, so simple,” McGinley told 1010 WINS/WCBS 880. “When will we ever have that chance ever again in our lives?”
The tree, now in place, will be decorated with 50,000 LED bulbs and a tree-top star made of three million Swarovski crystals in preparation for the Nov. 29 tree lighting ceremony.
Erik Pauze, head gardener at Rockefeller Center, told 1010 WINS/WCBS 880 that the tree will remain nice and healthy through the holiday.
“When we put it in there there’s a basin underneath it that holds 90 gallons of water, and it’ll drink it almost every day if it’s warm out,” Pauze said.
The tree will remain on display until Jan. 13.