The Rockefeller Christmas Tree has become a symbol of winter festivities in New York, and the lighting ceremony marks the unofficial start of the holiday season. It’s a tradition that has taken place for over 90 years and continues to be a crowd-pleaser for New Yorkers and everyone lucky enough to visit the city during the holiday season.

This year's tree will come from Vestal, near the Binghamton area of New York state. The 80-year-old tree is a Norway Spruce (the tree of choice in recent years) and stands 80 feet tall and 43 feet wide. It's expected to arrive at Rockefeller Plaza on November 11, and visitors can enjoy family-friendly activities on the South Plaza from 10 AM to 1 PM.

It takes a team of workers up to two weeks to get the tree up and decorated before it’s ready for the lighting ceremony.  Stop by for ice skating and catch a glimpse of the process, or swing by on November 29 to watch the 50,000 LED bulbs adorning the tree come blazing to life.

When and Where to See the Rockefeller Christmas Tree

When: The tree lighting takes place on Wednesday, November 29, starting at 8:00 PM. The Tree will be lit daily from 5 AM–12 AM until January 13 at 10 PM. On Christmas Day, the Tree is lit for 24 hours, and on New Year’s Eve, it is lit from 5 AM to 9 PM.

Where: 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111

How to Watch the Rockefeller Tree Lighting

This year, Kelly Clarkson will host the event alongside TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker and Craig Melvin. You'll also catch her performing throughout the Christmas special, marking 20 years since her first “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” performance.

The tree lighting ceremony is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. It will also be broadcast on Peacock and NBC from 8:00–10:00 PM on November 29, and photos, stories, and reels will be shared on Instagram.

More information on The Rockefeller Tree Lighting

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