It’s starting to look like the holiday season, and one of the most iconic kickoffs is here: the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting.
This year’s tree, an 80-foot Norway spruce, will be lit for the first time in New York City just before 10pm on Wednesday night. A version of the famous tree, a symbol synonymous with the start of the holiday season, has stood on the site for more than 80 years.
Here is everything holiday lovers need to know about the tree lighting, from where to watch to how to get there and more.
When is the tree lighting this year?
The tree is officially lit a few minutes before 10pm ET.
How can people watch from home?
The tree lighting will kick off with a festive “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” special on NBC and Peacock with host/performer Kelly Clarkson at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Clarkson will be joined by Today Show hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker and Craig Melvin.
An additional pre-show will also air on NBC-owned television stations and several NBC affiliates beginning at 7 p.m. ET. This show will be hosted by Access Hollywood host Mario Lopez and WNBC news anchors Natalie Pasquarella and David Ushery.
Viewers can also tune in to Rockefeller Center’s Instagram page, where the social media team will be sharing live images of the night in their stories, as well as uploading a reel immediately after the tree is lit.
How can you watch in person?
According to the NYPD, travellers wishing to view the lighting in person must enter through special viewing doors at either 48th Street and Sixth Avenue or 51st Street and Sixth Avenue. These entry points will open at approximately 4pm.
An accessible viewing area will also be available at the southwest corner of 49th Street and Rockefeller Plaza.
According to the NYPD, spectators are prohibited from bringing several items to the ceremony, including lawn chairs, blankets, large coolers, large bags or backpacks, umbrellas, alcohol, or any item that “may obstruct or interfere with another spectator’s enjoyment of the event”.
Where is this year’s tree from?
The 2023 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, which stands 80 feet tall and 43 feet wide, comes from Vestal, NY, just west of Binghamton. The tree is estimated to be 80 to 85 years old.
How many lights are on the tree?
In total, the tree has more than 50,000 multi-coloured LED lights strung on a whopping 5 miles of wire. The Swarovski crystal star at the top is covered in 3 million crystals and weighs approximately 900 pounds.
How long does the tree stay lit?
The tree is lit from 5 a.m. to midnight every day except Christmas Day, when it is lit for 24 hours, and New Year’s Eve, when it is lit from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. The tree will remain lit until 10 p.m. on January 13.
Travellers to New York City can visit the impressive tree free of charge by going to 30 Rockefeller Plaza, between 49th and 50th Streets.
What happens when the tree comes down?
Once the holiday season is over, the large tree will be donated to Habitat for Humanity to be milled into lumber, a tradition since 2007. The wood from a Norway spruce is an excellent material for flooring, furniture and cabinetry.