Step aside, Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. It’s time for another Christmas tree to shine, and it’s made from empty beer kegs. Yes, sitting atop this year’s Newsweek Best Christmas Tree list like a bright, shining Genesee Beer sign is the Genesee Brew House keg tree. It was chosen by Newsweek readers from a list of finalists “selected by our expert panelists and contributors,” the magazine states. All we can say is well done, readers. The Rockefeller Center tree, a tradition since 1933 and “the nation’s most famous holiday beacon,” according to Newsweek, came in fifth. This despite its 50,000 glowing LED lights and a 900-pound Swarovski crystal star. The entire list reads as follows: 1. Genesee Brewery keg tree2. Congress Hall tree in Cape May, New Jersey.3. Galleria Dallas tree in Dallas, Texas4. Fairmont Scottsdale Princess tree in Scottsdale, Arizona5. Rockefeller Center tree in New York City6. Dallas Arboretum tree in Dallas, Texas7. National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C.It tied with:7. Philadelphia City Hall tree in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania8. Biltmore Estate tree in Ashville, North Carolina9. Faneuil Hall Marketplace tree in Boston, Massachusetts Runners-up are: Capitol Holiday tree in Madison, WisconsinThe Grove tree in Los Angeles, CaliforniaMonterey Bay Aquarium tree in Monterey, CaliforniaNewport Mansions tree in Newport, Rhode IslandRoyal Hawaiian tree in Honolulu, Hawaii
For more, go to newsweek.com.
This year’s keg tree lighting
This year’s free keg tree lighting event starts at 5 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Brew House, 25 Cataract St., and will continue through 9 p.m. The switch will be flipped on the tree — built from 650 empty beer kegs and wrapped in 25,000 twinkling lights — at 7 p.m. Dean Jones, Brew House brewmaster, will serve as master of ceremonies and count down to the lighting, which will be accompanied by popular holiday tunes animated on a lighted board. New this year is Genesee’s debut of Keg Tree Donuts, a festive collaboration with another Rochester institution, Donuts Delite. The special treats — honey bun doughnuts infused with Genesee Brewery’s Keg Tree Cinnamon Ale — are available through Dec. 5 at the Brew House and Donuts Delite, 1700 Culver Road. They also will be sold at the keg tree lighting, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Breast Cancer Coalition. The keg tree debuted in 2014 and was an instant hit. The first one was made from 300 empty half-barrel kegs trimmed with 600 feet of LED green rope lights. Capped with a rotating Genesee Beer sign, the tree stood 23 feet tall, reaching the second-story Brew House balcony.
Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments and has an interest in retail news. Send story tips to mgreenwo@rocheste.gannett.com. Follow her on X @MarciaGreenwood.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester’s keg tree tops national list, outscores Rockefeller’s famous evergreen
Reporting by Marcia Greenwood, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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