November 10, 2016 [Oneonta, NY] – A Norway Spruce from Oneonta, New York, started its journey today to become this year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Donated by Angie and Graig Eichler, the tree measures 94-feet tall and 56-feet in diameter, is approximately 90-95-years old, and weighs approximately 14 tons.

At 94 feet, this is the second tallest Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree ever. (The tallest was from Killington, CT, in 1999, at 100 feet.) Due to its size and location in the family’s enclosed back yard, the tree had to be lifted by two cranes and floated above the house before being placed on the flatbed truck that is bringing it to New York City.

“I love Oneonta. It’s a tiny town and we are so excited that a little piece of our town is going to New York City for the holiday season. The tree provides so many happy memories for so many people, and being a part of that is very special,” said Angie Eichler.

The tree will arrive at Rockefeller Center on November 12, when a giant crane will hoist it into position in front of 30 Rockefeller Plaza where it will stand throughout the holiday season.  Once the tree is in place, scaffolding will be erected around it and it will be decorated with more than 50,000 multi-colored, energy-efficient LED lights strung over five miles of wire.  Hundreds of solar panels atop one of the Rockefeller Center buildings will help power the lights throughout the season.

For the 13th year, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will be topped with a crystal star from Swarovski.  The 9.5-feet in diameter and 1.5-feet deep star is adorned with 25,000 crystals and one million facets that will shine over midtown Manhattan from its perch atop the most famous Christmas tree in the world.

The 84th Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, November 30. The two-hour ceremony will be televised live, locally on WNBC-TV from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. and nationally on NBC from 8:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Rockefeller Center officially began the Tree Lighting Ceremony in 1933, when a Christmas tree was erected in front of the then eight-month old RCA Building and covered with 700 lights.  Since then, the Tree Lighting has become one of New York’s most popular events, attracting television audiences throughout the world.

Christmas trees in Rockefeller Center have ranged from 50-foot Pines to 100-foot Norway Spruces and have been viewed by approximately 2,500,000 spectators annually.  The decorations and lighting effects have covered a variety of colors and schemes, including one year when the tree was painted silver.

Spectators can view the lit tree each day from 5:30 A.M. – 11:30 P.M.; all day (24 hours) on Christmas; and from 5:30 A.M. – 9:00 P.M. on New Year’s Eve.  The last day to view the tree is January 7, 2017.

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