Move aside artificial Christmas trees, because New York City is all about real (and REALLY big) trees.

The holiday season is officially underway in New York City, ushered in—as always—by the grand arrival of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. This year’s towering guest of honor is a majestic 75-foot Norway Spruce hailing from East Greenbush, New York, a quiet town nestled along the Hudson River just south of Albany.

Weighing in at an impressive 11 tons and stretching 45 feet wide, the tree will be cut down Thursday, before making its way to Manhattan, where it’s set to arrive at Rockefeller Plaza on Saturday. Once secured in place, it will be dressed in more than 50,000 multicolored LED lights and crowned with a dazzling Swarovski star, transforming the iconic plaza into a beacon of holiday cheer.

Estimated to be about 75 years old, this year’s spruce is a gift from the Russ family, who have watched the tree grow for decades in their yard, and who are happy that others will be able to enjoy it.

“I’m excited to make more cherished memories with my family and childhood friends as it becomes the world’s Christmas tree,” said Judy Russ, whose family donated the tree.

The Rockefeller Christmas tree tradition

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree tradition, now closely tied to NBC’s annual lighting broadcast, has grown from humble beginnings in 1931—when Depression-era workers first placed a small balsam fir at the site—to one of the most anticipated holiday spectacles in the world. Each year, its lighting marks the unofficial start of New York City’s festive season, drawing crowds from around the globe to admire the glittering giant and ice skate beneath its glow.

With its arrival, the countdown begins toward the big lighting ceremony—a moment of magic and memory-making that, for many, defines the spirit of the season.

Visiting the Rockefeller Christmas tree

I’ve lived here for 20 years, and I will never grow tired of visiting the Rockefeller Christmas tree. In fact, it’s one of my favorite things to do with teenagers in New York, and my nieces and nephews beg to go skating there every year.

However, some things have changed recently. In the past, you’d pay an arm and a leg to go skating under the tree (which is still the case), but you could still get pretty close to the tree and get pictures without spending a dime.

No more.

These days, you have to pay a fee just to get in the line to take pictures close to the tree. However, New York is magical at Christmastime, so if you made a once-in-a-lifetime trip to visit the tree, then you shouldn’t feel bad for shelling out a few bucks to capture a candid pic that will last forever.