Christmas is making its way to New York City!
On Saturday morning, New York's Rockefeller Center finally got its iconic Christmas tree, a 75-foot-tall spruce donated from Daddy Al's General Store in Oneonta, New York, about 170 miles northwest of the city. The tree arrived in the Big Apple with a police escort, according to the Twitter account for NYPD News.
Paula Dick, who owns Daddy Al's General Store, told CNN affiliate WCBS that she hopes the tree can be a bright spot amid the tumultuous year.
"A lot of people need a lot of hope this year because of Covid-19, and we were more than honored to donate it. And hopefully, we bring some joy into some people's lives this season," she said. "I didn't realize that a tree that was in my yard just not too long ago would bring joy to so many people."
The official Instagram account for Rockefeller Center shared a photo of the tree being erected in the Plaza. "Let the holiday season begin! The 2020 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has officially arrived at the Plaza," they wrote alongside the photo.
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According to CNN, staff will now spend the next few weeks decorating the tree with thousands of lights and holiday ornaments for the annual tradition, before it finally makes its debut at the tree lighting on Dec. 2.
Per Rockefeller Center's website, as a health and safety precaution, there will be "no public access to this year’s tree lighting ceremony, however, everyone is invited to view the live national broadcast Christmas in Rockefeller Center from home on NBC."
"This year, we just feel the tree is vital," Rob Speyer, CEO of developer Tishman Speyer, said in a statement to the Associated Press last week. Speyer added that they are "particularly proud to continue the joyous tradition."
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