Move over, Rockefeller Center: Brooklyn’s tallest Christmas tree comes with live reindeer and free booze

December 5, 2017 By Scott Enman Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Downtown Brooklyn’s Christmas tree is a whopping 55 feet tall and is only one foot less in width than Rockefeller Center’s tree. Eagle file photo

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The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree may be receiving all of the attention lately, but across the river in Downtown Brooklyn, there’s an equally impressive tree.

Brooklyn’s largest Christmas tree, at a whopping 55 feet tall, is 20 feet shorter than its Midtown Manhattan neighbor, but the Norway Fir is only one foot less in width than Rockefeller’s Norway spruce.

“Brooklyn is growing in every way — and that includes our incredible Christmas celebrations,” Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams told the Brooklyn Eagle. “From the creativity of Dyker Heights’ home displays to MetroTech’s tremendous tree, our holiday festivities bring the borough together and attract the attention of tourists from around the world.”

Ahead of the 28th Annual Light Up the Holidays celebration, which takes place on Thursday from 4-6:30 p.m., here’s everything you need to know about Downtown Brooklyn’s enormous tree.

What type of tree is it?

A Norway Fir that starts off at 62 to 65 feet and stands at 55 feet tall once its installed and decorated.

Where does the tree come from?

North Carolina.

How much does the tree weigh?

It’s more than 5,000 pounds. It takes a 28-ton crane to lift the tree off the trailer for transport.

How many lights are strung on the tree?

More than 13,000 C7 white lights will be placed on the tree with an additional 125 Moravian stars placed on its limbs.

When is the tree cut down?

Three days before shipping. The first step is to tie the tree up while it’s still standing. This process takes two days to reduce the number of broken branches.

What happens to the tree when it comes down?

It’s chipped and recycled.

Not only will Santa Claus be in attendance on Thursday, but his reindeer will also be on hand. Feel free to take selfies with Ol’ Saint Nick’s horned friends, as they’ll surely generate likes on Instagram.

If complimentary warm beverages from Starbucks aren’t your cup of tea, there will be free booze available at an after-party at Circa Brewing Co., where attendees of the tree lighting can redeem a voucher for a complimentary holiday cocktail or seasonal beer.

Light Up the Holidays, which attracts hundreds of people each year, will feature a preview of the Brooklyn Ballet’s “The Brooklyn Nutcracker,” a dance that meshes ballet and hip-hop.

In addition, members of the Brooklyn Nets’ Team Hype will be in attendance, and NYU Tandon School of Engineering will be hosting Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality demonstrations.

Don’t forget to bring an appetite because Korean barbecue restaurant Korilla and French restaurant La Defense will be serving free bites.

And with a forecast set for clear skies and a pleasant 47 degrees, one might even forget it’s December.

The 28th Annual Light Up the Holidays celebration is a free event and will take place on Thursday at 2 MetroTech Center from 4-6:30 p.m. The after-party at Circa Brewing Co. runs from 6:30-8 p.m.

Follow reporter Scott Enman on Twitter.