The Rockefeller Center tree comes down in early January, usually around January 7th
The famous Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan stays up through New Year's Day and is taken down roughly one week later. The exact date shifts slightly each year depending on the calendar, but it typically falls between January 5th and January 9th. In 2024, the tree was removed on January 9th. The removal process takes a full day and involves a crane, a team of workers, and careful dismantling to avoid damage to the plaza below.
The tree removal is not a public event like the lighting ceremony in November. Workers arrive early in the morning, and the tree is usually gone by afternoon. If you want to see the tree before it comes down, you have roughly six weeks from the lighting (which happens in late November) through the first week of January.
Key Takeaways
- The Rockefeller Center tree is taken down in the first week of January, most often around January 7th, though the exact date varies year to year.
- The removal happens on a single day and is not a ticketed or widely publicized event, though you can watch from the plaza if you arrive early.
- The tree stays lit through January 1st, so you can visit on New Year's Day if you want to see it illuminated one last time.
- The removed tree is chipped and donated to local parks and gardens as mulch rather than sent to a landfill.
How to find the exact removal date each year
Rockefeller Center announces the removal date on its official website and social media accounts in late December. The date is usually posted by mid-December, so you can plan ahead if you want to catch the tree before it comes down. You can also call Rockefeller Center directly at 212-332-6868 to confirm the date.
The tree lighting date is fixed—it always happens on the Wednesday after Thanksgiving—but the removal date can shift by a few days depending on the year. Checking the official Rockefeller Center website is the most reliable way to get the current year's removal schedule.
What happens to the tree after removal
The tree is not discarded. After it comes down, it is transported to a facility where it is chipped into mulch. The mulch is then donated to parks throughout New York City and to the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. Some of it goes to community gardens and other green spaces in the five boroughs.
This recycling program has been in place for decades. It means the tree that stood at Rockefeller Center gets a second life as ground cover in parks where it helps retain moisture and suppress weeds. If you work in a city park or community garden, the mulch you see in early spring may have come from the famous tree.
Visiting the tree in its final days
If you want to see the tree before removal, the last few days of the holiday season are less crowded than the weeks right after Thanksgiving. The tree is lit every evening from 5 a.m. to midnight, so you can visit in the morning or evening to avoid peak crowds. The plaza itself is free to enter.
The tree is at its most impressive when lit, so an evening visit in late December or early January gives you the full effect. The surrounding holiday decorations and ice skating rink (which operates through early January) are also part of the experience. Bring a camera and dress warmly—the plaza is exposed and can be windy.
Other Christmas trees removed around the same time in New York
The Rockefeller Center tree is the most famous, but other large trees around the city come down on similar schedules. The tree at Bryant Park (between 40th and 42nd Streets) is typically removed in early January as well. The tree at Union Square usually comes down around the same time. These trees are smaller and less publicized than Rockefeller's, but they follow the same general timeline.
If you are interested in seeing how different neighborhoods handle holiday tree removal, you can check with your local parks department or community board. Many smaller trees in residential areas and shopping districts come down between January 1st and January 15th.
Planning ahead for next year's tree season
If you missed the tree this year, mark your calendar for late November of the following year. The lighting ceremony is held on the Wednesday after Thanksgiving, and that date is fixed. The tree then stays up for about six weeks, giving you a long window to visit. The removal happens roughly one week after New Year's Day.
Rockefeller Center also publishes its holiday schedule months in advance, so you can check their website in September or October to see the exact dates for the coming season. This lets you plan a trip to New York around the tree if you want to make it part of your holiday plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch the tree being taken down?
The removal is not a formal public event, but the plaza is open and you can watch if you arrive early in the morning. Workers begin at dawn, and the process usually takes most of the day. There are no reserved viewing areas or announcements, so it is first-come, first-served.
Is the tree removal date the same every year?
No. The removal date shifts by a few days each year because it is scheduled roughly one week after January 1st. Rockefeller Center announces the exact date in December, so check their website or call ahead if you want to know when it is happening.
What if I want to buy a piece of the tree as a souvenir?
Rockefeller Center does not sell pieces of the tree to the public. The entire tree is chipped for mulch and donated to parks. However, you can purchase holiday ornaments and other merchandise at the Rockefeller Center gift shop year-round.
How tall is the tree, and where does it come from?
The tree is typically 75 to 85 feet tall and weighs around 50 tons. It is a Norway Spruce, and it is donated each year by a private landowner from somewhere in the northeastern United States—usually from New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut. The exact origin changes annually.
Can I visit Rockefeller Center on January 1st to see the tree?
Yes. The tree is lit through midnight on January 1st, so you can visit on New Year's Day. The plaza is open, and the tree will be illuminated. This is often a quieter time to visit than the weeks right after Thanksgiving, though crowds can still be heavy depending on the weather.