The Rockefeller Christmas Tree Comes to Town

Expect a lot of hubbub around Rockefeller Center this morning - an 88 foot Norway spruce is arriving from Ridgefield, Connecticut to be the official Christmas Tree. Owner Rob Kinnaird told reporters how he grew up with the 9-ton tree ("My sandbox and glide ride [jungle gym] used to be next to the tree.") and that he was excited for the tree to will be in New York.

The tree should be arriving now; a spike is supposed to be driven into the tree around 10AM and a crane will lift the tree in place at 10:30AM. And the Swarovski crystal tree topper arrived yesterday as well - the star is 9 feet talls and weighs 550 pounds. The tree will officially be lit on November 29 (and there will be performances from Lionel Richie, Christina Aguilera, Better Midler and Sting).

Photograph of the 2006 Rockefeller Christmas Tree being lifted from its old home in Ridgefield, Conneticut by Douglas Healey/AP

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By Jen Chung in News on November 10, 2006 8:45 AM

Comments [rss]

jack davidson

hey lance, i live about 3/4 a mile away from your parent's house. my mom knows your dad. you should know that we are very proud of your parents and are watching the lighing ceremony right now. cheers

- Jack

Lance Kinnaird

hey I'm Lance Kinnaird, Rob Kinnaird's son. That's my tree, I grew up next to it. To the person who said it's said they are cutting it down, when the people at Rockefeller asked us if they could take it 5 years ago my sister and I said the same thing. Then my dad told us last year we'd have to cut it down anyway cause it's so old. So we decided to do it. Anyway I'm really excited for the tree lighting tomorrow. Should be pretty awesome.

upchuck

there will be performances from Lionel Richie, Christina Aguilera, Better Midler and Sting

Are they trying to kill people..?

Paddy

If they say it is 80 years old, then that checks out. Norway spruce trees have a lifespan of 75-80 years.

tree

Woohoo! I grew up in Ridgefield. Nice town back in the day. Now it's overrun but snotty ex-New Yorkers and their Volvos. David Letterman does his grocery shoping there.

miss

you saw them on the Today show too didn't you, huh?

Jen

bob, I was thinking that too, but apparently the tree was "at the end of it's life" and the owners probably would have had to cut it down. So I think it worked out.

bob

It is really depressing that they cut down a 90 foot tree just so some tourists can look at it for a few weeks. Sad.

King Kong

As I have tried to point out MANY times, it is really Ms. Chung who needs a proofreader, not the rest of the staff. They do a mighty fine job.