People gather to watch Rockefeller Center Christmas tree depart State College

There’s no such thing as a quick getaway when you’re lugging a 75-foot tall Norway spruce.

Nearly six hours after it was cut from a yard in College Township, the newest addition to a long line of Rockefeller Christmas trees was finally headed west on U.S. route 322.

Men, women children — and even a Fed Ex guy — gathered along the side of Benner Pike to pose for selfies and swap looks of astonishment.

Karen Hazel was on her way home from Wegmans when she spotted the tree and looped around the neighborhood to park and take a closer glance.

“I could see it when they were wrapping it but it looks bigger on the truck,” Hazel said.

She was proud that Centre County was able to contribute something that will be featured on a national level.

“It’s iconic. The Christmas tree, it’s a tradition,” Hazel said.

Stephanie Savereno works as a branch manager at the First National Bank on Elmwood Street. She used her lunch break to get a better view of the spruce.

“We saw it coming down this morning and I had to come take a peek,” Savereno said.

Her 5-year-old daughter was still in school, but Savereno took plenty of photos to share.

“My little girl will be happy to see it,” she said.

This story was originally published November 9, 2017 at 3:04 PM with the headline "People gather to watch Rockefeller Center Christmas tree depart State College."