Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree arriving this Friday

This year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree hails from the Nutmeg State.

The 76-foot tall, 47-feet wide Norway spruce, which is being donated by a family in Shelton, Ct., will be chopped down Thursday at 9 a.m., trucked into Manhattan, and prepared to be set up tomorrow at the famous midtown plaza.

The 12-ton, 75-year-old plant will be festooned with 45,000 multicolored LED lights strung on five miles of wire and crowned with a Swarovski star made of 25,000 crystals with a million facets.

The star, which will be unveiled Nov. 14, spans 9.5 feet.

The 81st Rockefeller Center Christmas tree Lighting Ceremony will take place 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4.

Spectators will be able to view the tree each day from 5:30 a.m. -- 11:30 p.m., all day on Christmas, and from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve.

The last day to view the tree is Jan. 7. After that, it will be milled into lumber for Habitat for Humanity projects.