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Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting (2024)

One of the most iconic images of Christmas in New York City is the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

On my walking tours during the holidays, many of my guests ask about attending the Lighting Ceremony and other times to see the tree.

In this post, I tell you what I tell them as I go over all the details of how to attend the ceremony and how to see the tree at other times.

In 2024, the tree lighting ceremony will be on Wednesday, November 27th. The tree stays up until mid-January.

The lights are on daily from early in the morning until late at night so you’ll have plenty of time to see this spectacular sight. See below for the exact times the lights are on.

In the video below, Katie, my fellow tour guide with Tours by Foot NYC, explains some of the information in this post.


WHEN IS THE LIGHTING CEREMONY?

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is always lit on the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving.

In 2024, that is November 27th. The ceremony begins at 8 pm and the lights are turned on at 10 pm.

The tree usual goes up a week or so before the opening lighting ceremony.

Before the lighting, there are two hours of festive performances by top singers and bands, as well as the Radio City Rockettes.

Last year’s ceremony host was Kelly Clarkson and performers included superstars like Cher, Barry Manilow, Keke Palmer and others.

The great news is that you don’t need tickets to attend the ceremony!

The not-so-good news is that space is first-come, first-served.

But if I find space every year, so can you!

You should try to arrive no later than 3 pm though you can go earlier to make sure you get a spot.

See my tips on where to stand for a good view of the tree and the live performances.


WHEN TO SEE THE TREE AFTER THE CEREMONY

The tree will be lit daily from 5 am to midnight until mid-January at 10 pm.

The last day has yet to be announced so check back with us or the official website.

There are a few days when the hours vary from the daily 5 am to midnight schedule.

From December 15th through Christmas Eve, the lights stay on until 1 am. That’s an extra hour of joy!

On Christmas Day, the tree is lit for 24 hours. On New Year’s Eve, December 31, the lights will be lit from 5 am to 9 pm.

If your schedule allows for it, I suggest you go at night to see the tree. While it is beautiful at any time, at night it is especially dazzling.

Seeing the tree after dark is one of our top free things to do at night in NYC during the holidays.

View of Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree from the Channel Gardens
View of Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree from the Channel Gardens

Ok, so now you know when you can go. But what about where to grab that perfect picture?

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Without a doubt, the best photos are taken from Channel Gardens, on Fifth Avenue between W. 49th and W. 50th Streets as in the photo above.

The Channel Gardens is a short pedestrian path also decked out splendidly for the holidays.

For a map of Rockefeller Center and a list of things to see and do there (it’s a lot!) see our Guide to Rockefeller Center.

Why not join us to see the tree on one of our Holiday Lights Tours of Manhattan?


TIPS FOR ATTENDING THE CEREMONY

From my years attending the ceremony, I’ve learned what to do (and what not to do) to have a jolly time.

Where to Stand to See the Tree Lighting:

The tree is located in front of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The area with views of the tree is very small and will be very crowded.

Again, go early, by 3 pm at the latest if you want to be in a prime location.

You can see the tree from these locations:

  • On Rockefeller Plaza, a short street that is located between West 48th and 51st Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues and also surrounds the Rockefeller Center ice skating rink (in orange in the image below)
  • In the Channel Gardens, a very narrow pedestrian walkway entered from 5th Avenue between West 49th and West 50th Streets (in green in the image below)
  • You can also see from a segment of 5th Avenue that is between 49th and 50th Street (red star in the image below)
map of Best Spots for Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

Where to Stand to See the Live Performances

The live performances take place in front of the Prometheus statue in the lower concourse square, which is surrounded by Rockefeller Plaza (in orange in the image above).

Where to View the Performers for Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

In the photo below, you can see people on the lower level, standing near the stage, lit in red. These people are “VIPs”.

This area is not open to the general public. 

To see the performers you must be in the first few rows of people along the north, south, and east perimeters of the rink.

If seeing the performers is a priority you should aim to get there by 12 pm or earlier.

Good to know: 

  • Again, the celebration is open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. You do not need a ticket.
  • As I said above, aim to get there by 3 pm or you may not be able to find a spot to see the tree.
  • Street closures for vehicles between Fifth and Sixth Avenues and 48th to 51st Streets begin at 3 p.m. that day, so leave the car behind and take the subway or bus.
  • Security: No umbrellas, backpacks, or large bags are allowed into the event. There are nearby luggage and bag storage locations that are very affordable.
  • If you can’t make the lighting in person, it is broadcast on TV live on NBC (local channel 4) from 7 pm – 9 pm. It is also streamed live from NBC and other live-stream sources.
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WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ROCKEFELLER CHRISTMAS TREE IN NYC AFTER THE HOLIDAYS ARE OVER?

As part of a beautiful tradition, last year’s Rockefeller Center tree was donated to the non-profit organization, Habitat for Humanity.

The tree will be made into lumber and used to build homes for the needy.


ICE SKATING AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER AND OTHER RINKS

For the ultimate New York City Christmas experience, go ice skating in front of the tree!

It’s one of many awesome places to ice skate in NYC.


ABOUT THIS YEAR’S TREE

As we await details of the 2024 tree, let me tell you about last year’s tree.

In 2023, the tree came from the small town of Vestal, NY. It’s an 85-year-old spruce that’s 80 feet tall and weighs 12 tons!

Once the tree was cut down, it traveled nearly 200 miles to Rockefeller Plaza. It arrived on Saturday morning, November 11.

On the arrival date in 2023, there were free family-fun activities like face painting, ornament decorating and letter-writing to Santa.

These family activities are generally a yearly event, but it’s best if you check back with us or the official website for information for 2024.

 


HOW TO GET HERE

The tree is at Rockefeller Plaza on W. 49th St between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in Midtown Manhattan.

To find your way there, use this Google Maps link to get exact directions to the tree from your point of departure.

Getting there is easy but what you may not know is where to stand to capture that perfect photo.

I’ll go over that in my tips section below!

map of rockefeller Center Christmas tree

By subway:

  • B, D, F, and M trains to the 47-50th Street Rockefeller Center stop.
  • 1 Train to the 50th Street stop and walk along 50th Street in the direction of the cars to Rockefeller Center between 5th and 6th Ave.
  • N, Q, or R trains to the 49th Street stop and walk along 49th Street against the traffic to Rockefeller Center between 5th and 6th Ave.
  • E or M to the 5th Avenue/53rd Street stop and walk south on 5th Avenue in the direction of the cars.
  • 6 train to 51 Street Station and walk in the direction of cars until 5th Avenue and make a left turn onto 5th Avenue. Walk one block down.

If you are new to NYC, check out our posts, Navigating the New York Subway and Which Subway MetroCard to Buy?


By bus: 

Visitors don’t often consider traveling by bus, but I rather like it.

While the subway is faster, the bus gives you a view of NYC while you ride,

Buses that go there are the M1, M2, M3, M4 or M5 bus to 50th Street. These buses run north and south.

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OTHER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES 

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See the insanely over-the-top holiday lights of Brooklyn’s Dyker Heights neighborhood.

Shop at the many Christmas Markets in New York City.

Take our New York Holiday Lights Tour.

See a holiday show!

Look at our Guide to Christmas in New York City for even more things to do!


HISTORY AND FUN FACTS

Although the first official Rockefeller Center tree lighting ceremony was in 1933, the first Christmas tree at the Center was erected by demolition workers who were building Rockefeller Center in 1931.

This first tree was just 20 feet tall and was decorated with handmade garlands, cranberries, and even a few tin cans.

Remember, in 1931 America was going through the Great Depression.

But if all the workers could get hold of were tin cans, they were not going to let any obstacle prevent them from celebrating Christmas.

A great history of Rockefeller Center can be found here.

Fun Facts:

  • The tree must be at least 65 feet tall and 35 feet wide, but the preferred height is usually between 75 and 90 feet tall and proportionally wide.
  • The tallest Rockefeller Tree in history was in 1999: 100 feet tall!
  • The most common species of tree selected each year is the Norway Spruce. Because this tree doesn’t typically grow to this size in the New York area, most of the trees are cultivated in peoples’ yards.
  • A helicopter flies over New Jersey and Connecticut to scour the area for potential candidates.
  • There is no monetary compensation offered for the tree if yours is selected. It is a donation and considered an honor to have your tree as the official Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
  • The tree is only decorated with lights and a star.
  • There are over 30,000 lights on the tree (about 5 miles of strands!)
  • The star used on the current trees was designed by architect Daniel Libeskind in 2018. This three-dimensional Swarovski star weighs approximately 900 lbs. and features 70 spikes covered in 3 million Swarovski crystals.
  • The tree now uses LED lights. As compared to the old incandescent bulbs, the LED lights save enough energy every day to power a 2,000 sq ft home for a month!
  • The tree stays up until the Christian Feast of the Epiphany (the official end of the Christmas season).
  • The tree is recycled after it is taken down. Over three tons of mulch can be made from the trees.
  • In 1942, during World War II, in honor of the war effort, the traditional large tree was replaced with three smaller trees, decorated in red, white and blue.
  • The Rockefeller Christmas Tree is seen in the films Home Alone 2 and Elf, as well as several others.
  • Since 2007, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has been donated to Habitat for Humanity once the season is over. It is milled, treated, and made into lumber, which is then used to build homes for people in need.

Happy Holidays!!