Rockefeller Center tree lifted into place in NYC as crowd looks on: ‘It’s surreal’

Rockefeller Center is getting its annual spruce-up.

The massive Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was lifted into place in the Midtown hub Saturday, marking the official start of the holiday season.

A crowd swarmed the 75-foot-tall fir in the hour before the tree took its traditional spot in the well-known square, despite some early rain showers.

“It’s surreal! I’ve seen it up at Christmas time, but to see the process is cool,” said Leanne Garza, 36, who planned a vacation to the Big Apple with friend Kaissa Trevino from South Texas just to see the tree.

“It’s going to be part of our memories of being in New York City for sure!”

Trevino, 33, agreed.

“This is my first time. I’m really excited to see it go up. [Since] I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to see it,” Trevino said.

“I knew it would be big, but not this big.”

Pennsylvania mom Jessica Olson, and her college student daughter Bailey watched crews of workers prepare the tree for placement, calling it “exciting.”

“I didn’t think it was real. I never realized it was such a big tree, it’s just incredible,” said Bailey, 18. “I’m excited to see what it looks like when it’s up and all fluffed out. It’s gonna be so gorgeous!”

Her mother was also impressed.

“It’s neat to see the ones involved under the tree. There is a whole crew of people you wouldn’t think would be there to help pick up the tree,” the 48-year-old said.

“It feels like the start of the Christmas season. It puts you in a festive mood.”

Dominique Perrot, a retired school teacher, woke up at 5 a.m. for what she called a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Perrot had never witnessed the Rockefeller Christmas tree make its seasonal debut, even though she lives just across the East River in Astoria.

“I like the size, the length, the trip — where it came from, the excitement. I like to see it better this way. It’s charming with the little pine cones. I prefer to see it this way,” said Perrot, 74.

“I decided to come because last year I saw pictures and videos of it slowly coming up the street. It looked so charming, so massive. It’s like a big contrast — there is the New York City traffic and noise and every day craziness and then you have this big tree, representing quietness and calmness,” she said.

The 75-foot Norway spruce made its arrival overnight, two days after it was chopped down from its longtime upstate home.

The sprawling spruce was donated by Judy Russ and her 7-year-old son, Liam, in honor of her beloved husband, Dan, who died in 2020 at just 32 years old.

He and his wife had dreamed their tree might one day light up Rockefeller Center for the rest of the world, and Judy Russ made it her mission to make the vision a reality.

The 75-year-old tree — planted on the couple’s East Greenbush property by Dan Russ’ great-grandparents — was chopped down on Thursday.

It will officially light up with 50,000 bulbs at the annual lighting ceremony on Dec. 3.