The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is typically erected in mid-November, about two weeks before its famous lighting ceremony. For 2025, it arrived in NYC on November 7 and was hoisted into place shortly after, following tradition.

Tree Arrival Timeline

Workers transport the massive Norway spruce from its origin (often Upstate New York) via flatbed truck, arriving early morning on a Saturday. A crane then lifts it into position around 10 a.m. amid crowds and festivities—Santa sometimes appears for the spectacle.

In 2025 specifics:

  • Tree journey began November 7 from 150 miles away.
  • Expected hoisting: November 8 or 15, though reports confirm early November delivery.

Lighting Ceremony Details

The tree gets fully decorated with over 50,000 lights and a Swarovski star before the official lighting. This happens the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving—December 3, 2025, at 10 p.m., broadcast live on NBC.

Historical Context

Since the 1930s tradition, the tree is "put up" (erected and rigged) mid- November to allow decoration time. It stays lit daily from 5 a.m. to midnight through the holidays, 24 hours on Christmas Eve, and darkens mid-January 2026.

Past years show consistency: e.g., 2023 reveal early November, hoisting soon after.

TL;DR: Erected mid-November (Nov 7-8 for 2025); lit Dec 3.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.