A Norway spruce grown near West Edmeston, about 30 minutes south of Utica, was selected as the 2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, Rockefeller Center officials said Monday.
key dates and decorations
The tree is scheduled to be cut down on Thursday, Nov. 5, and transported to Manhattan, where it is expected to arrive on Nov. 7. The annual tree lighting will be held during the live broadcast of “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” on Wednesday, Dec. 2. The spruce will remain on display through Jan. 9 of next year.
- The tree will be wrapped in more than 50,000 multicolored, energy-efficient LED lights.
- It will be topped with a Swarovski star.
- After the display period ends, the tree will be milled into lumber for Habitat for Humanity.
local connection
The selection highlights a local link between the Mohawk Valley region and a long-running New York City holiday tradition. West Edmeston sits roughly 30 minutes west of Cooperstown and just south of Utica, placing the tree’s origin within the broader Central New York area.
Rockefeller Center’s annual tree program draws national attention each holiday season. This year’s selection continues the practice of sourcing a single, large evergreen from a community outside the city and repurposing it for charitable use once the holiday display concludes.
what to watch next
Residents and local media can expect coverage of the tree’s harvest on Nov. 5 and its arrival in Manhattan on Nov. 7. The tree lighting ceremony will be broadcast live on Dec. 2.
Why it matters locally: the tree’s origin in the Mohawk Valley connects the region to a national cultural event and the tree’s post-season donation to Habitat for Humanity ties the selection to a charitable outcome.
