The holiday season in New York City officially kicked off on Saturday with the arrival of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree at its iconic spot in Manhattan. The annual tradition drew crowds of excited onlookers as the massive tree was set up in its new home.

This year’s tree is a majestic Norway spruce, standing 75 feet tall, sourced from East Greenbush, a town near Albany. After being felled earlier this week, the tree embarked on a 150-mile journey southward on a flatbed truck, capturing the attention of spectators along its route.

At 30 Rockefeller Plaza, a much larger audience gathered to witness the grand installation. Workers used cranes to lift the 11-ton giant into place, securing it above the famous skating rink. Onlookers, armed with coffee and smartphones, watched as the tree was carefully stabilized and readied for decoration.

Soon, the tree will be adorned with over 50,000 energy-efficient multicolored LED lights, topped with a dazzling 900-pound Swarovski star. The lighting ceremony, scheduled for December 3, will be broadcast live on television, hosted by country music icon Reba McEntire. The tree will remain on display until mid-January, after which it will be repurposed into lumber for Habitat for Humanity’s affordable housing projects.

The magnificent spruce was generously donated by Judy Russ and her family. Remarkably, the tree was originally planted in the 1920s by her husband’s great-grandparents, adding a rich layer of history to this cherished holiday symbol.

The tree was donated by homeowner Judy Russ and her family. She said it was planted by her husband’s great-grandparents in the 1920s.

“For this to now become the center of New York City Christmas is incredible,” Russ told the radio station 1010 WINS.

The first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was put up by workers in 1931 to raise spirits during the Great Depression. The comparatively modest 20-foot (6-meter) balsam fir was outfitted with garlands handmade by the workers’ families.

The tradition stuck as the first tree-lighting ceremony was held in 1933.