NEW YORK (AP) — The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was elevated to its prestigious location in Manhattan on Saturday, signaling the commencement of the holiday festivities in New York City.

This year, the tree is a majestic 75-foot (23-meter) Norway spruce hailing from East Greenbush, a community near Albany. After being felled earlier this week, it embarked on a 150-mile (240-kilometer) journey southward on a flatbed truck, capturing the interest of many onlookers along its route.

Larger crowds gathered at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, where cranes were employed to raise the hefty 11-ton tree into place, overlooking the famous skating rink. Spectators, equipped with coffee and smartphones, watched as crews meticulously secured the spruce and began the delicate task of ensuring its stability.

Soon, the tree will dazzle with over 50,000 multicolored, energy-efficient LED lights and be topped with a Swarovski star weighing a substantial 900 pounds (408 kilograms).

The lighting ceremony is scheduled for December 3, with country music icon Reba McEntire hosting the live television broadcast. The tree will remain on display until mid-January, after which it will be transformed into lumber to support the efforts of the affordable housing nonprofit, Habitat for Humanity.

The tree was donated by homeowner Judy Russ and her family. She said it was planted by her husband’s great-grandparents in the 1920s.

“For this to now become the center of New York City Christmas is incredible,” Russ told the radio station 1010 WINS.

The first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was put up by workers in 1931 to raise spirits during the Great Depression. The comparatively modest 20-foot (6-meter) balsam fir was outfitted with garlands handmade by the workers’ families.

The tradition stuck as the first tree-lighting ceremony was held in 1933.