Celebrations
What time is the Rockefeller tree lighting? Here’s how to watch it live and online
The Christmas season is underway but there is still one more tradition you don’t want to miss, the tree lighting in Rockefeller Plaza. Here are the details.
The holiday season officially kicks off this Wednesday, December 4, with one of New York City’s most cherished traditions: the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. This year’s tree—a majestic 74-foot-tall Norwegian spruce—has traveled from Massachusetts, marking the first time since 1959 that the Rockefeller tree hails from this region. If you’re planning to tune in or visit, here’s everything you need to know to catch this iconic moment.
A tree lighting like no other: What time is the tree lighting in Rockefeller?
The Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Ceremony is set to dazzle audiences starting at 8:00 p.m. ET, featuring star-studded performances from Kelly Clarkson, the Backstreet Boys, Jennifer Hudson, and country duo Dan + Shay among others. The highly anticipated moment—the illumination of the tree—will take place around 10:00 p.m. ET, marking the event’s grand finale.
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Where and how to watch the Rockefeller tree lighting live
You can catch the entire event live on NBC or stream it online via the network’s streaming service, Peacock. For Spanish-speaking audiences, Telemundo will offer a special broadcast starting at 9:00 p.m. ET, ensuring everyone can join in the holiday cheer from the comfort of their home.
A tree worthy of the holidays
The Rockefeller tree this year is nothing short of spectacular. Adorned with over 50,000 LED lights and crowned by a Swarovski crystal star, it will remain lit daily from 5:00 am to midnight, with two exceptions Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, through mid-January providing ample opportunity for tourists and locals to snap their holiday photos.
On Christmas Day, the tree will shine for a full 24 hours, and on New Year’s Eve it will be lit from 5am to 9pm.
Original article written by Daniela Barrera, translated with the assistance of AI and edited by Greg Heilman.
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