Rockefeller Center’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony is expected to go ahead today despite the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. That happened just a few blocks away on Wednesday.
Since the tree has already been decorated by plaza staff, it’s time for this year’s lighting ceremony, which will be held later this evening.
In 1931, Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, New York, marked the beginning of the Christmas season for the first time by bringing a 69- to 100-foot-tall tree inside the square. Two years later, the complex decided to make the tree an annual tradition and hosted the first-ever tree lighting ceremony. However, the tree lighting ceremony was not nationally televised until 1951.
Here’s everything to know about the 2024 event, from when the tree will be lit to how to watch the event.
When will the tree light up and for how long?
The 92nd Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, with the tree being lit a few minutes before 10pm ET. As part of the event, viewers will see the tree lit up with 50,000 multi-colored lights and a Swarovski star topper.
Following the lighting ceremony, the Rockefeller Center tree will be lit daily from 5 a.m. to midnight. The tree will be lit during these hours until the beginning of January.
How to watch the Christmas tree lighting ceremony?
If you live in New York City, you can take the opportunity to visit Rockefeller Center and see the tree lighting ceremony in person. However, if you don’t live near Manhattan — or you just don’t want to attend what’s likely to be a busy schedule — you can watch the event from the comfort of your own home.
NBC will broadcast the event, as NBC Studios is based at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Also known as broadcastChristmas at Rockefeller Center” – will premiere on December 4 at 8 p.m. The two-hour telecast will be broadcast live on NBC and broadcast on Peacock.
As she did last year, Kelly Clarkson is hosting the event and its television special. There will be several celebrity appearances, including NBC anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Rooker, and Craig Malone.
Along with Clarkson’s performance, the Backstreet Boys, Jennifer Hudson, country duo Dan + Shay, and Broadway star Megan Hilty, and more are expected to sing.
What is the date of the tree lighting ceremony?
In 1993, three years before the downstairs skating rink was installed, Rockefeller Center held its first annual tree lighting ceremony. Years later, it hosted the “largest tree in Rockefeller Center history” in 1999, with a 100-foot tall tree.
The tree is decorated with different lights each year, including red, white, and blue lights in December 2001 to pay tribute to the victims of the September 11 attacks.
In December 2004, Rockefeller Center received its own 550-pound Swarovski star, which has adorned the top of the tree each year until 2018. The star had “25,000 crystals, 1 million facets” and was 9.5 feet in diameter. In 2005, LED lights were added to the star, making it “look like it’s radiating light from its center to its ends”.
A new Swarovski star was introduced in December 2018, designed by architect Daniel Libeskind. The 9-foot-4-inch tree topper is not only “backlit by LEDs,” but also features three million dazzling Swarovski crystals on 70 triangular spikes.