It was December 1931 when workers at the Rockefeller Center construction site raised money for a 20-foot-tall Christmas tree to express their gratitude for having jobs during the Great Depression. The men decorated the tree with handmade garlands, streamers and tin can ornaments. Two years later, in 1933, Rockefeller himself placed a 50-foot tree at the site, decorated it with 700 twinkling lights, and held the first official tree-lighting ceremony. Every year since then, Rockefeller Center’s Christmas tree has drawn New Yorkers and visitors alike to celebrate the merriest time of the year.

Where is the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree 2024?

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is located in the Rockefeller Center complex in Midtown Manhattan. Its exact location is in Rockefeller Plaza, above the Rockefeller Center ice rink and the statue of Prometheus. It is specifically located between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue, and between 49th Street and 50th Street. This area is considered by many to be the center of New York and is easily accessible by both public transportation and walking. During the holiday season, this area is where the heart of New York beats, as locals and tourists flock to admire the decorations.

What is near?

In the Rockefeller Center area you can see the now classic giant Christmas balls in the fountain across from Radio City Music Hall, the huge Candy Canes just down 6th Avenue, the nearby Fox Square Christmas Tree and Tunnel Christmas Tree and of course Radio City Music Hall where you can see the Christmas Spectacular show. Finally, don’t miss Saks Fifth Avenue light show, which has now become a Christmas must see.

Within walking distance are Times Square (9 minutes, 0.4 miles), Bryant Park (11 minutes, 0.5 miles), Central Park (12 minutes, 0.5 miles), MoMA ( 7 minutes, 0.3 miles), Grand Central Terminal (10 minutes, 0.5 miles) and many other attractions.

How to get there?

The closest subway stations are 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr (B D F M trains) and 5 Av/53 St (E M trains). 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue have many bus lines.

Where does the Tree come from?

Because this kind of tree does not usually grow to this size in the New York area, most of the trees are grown in people’s yards. A helicopter flies over New Jersey and Connecticut and scans the area for potential candidate trees. The 2023 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was an 80-foot Norway spruce from Vestal, New York, near Binghamton, which arrived in Manhattan on Saturday, November 11, 2023. Weighing approximately 12 tons, the impressive tree had a diameter of 43 feet. Its decoration consisted of more than 50,000 colorful LED lights and a dazzling Swarovski star that weighed about 250 kilograms and had 70 peaks covered with 30 million crystals of the same name.

When is the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree 2024 lighting ceremony?

The tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center takes place on the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving and is televised live on NBC beginning at 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. The event is open to the public, so if you want to experience the unique moment you should arrive very early, before the crowd starts to gather. Locals say a good time to arrive is 3pm so you can grab a good seat. There are no tickets to attend the lighting. Attendance is on a first-come, first-served basis. Before the lighting ceremony, which starts at 7pm, there are live performances by top singers and bands. In 2023 Cher was the main guest.

How long does the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree 2024 stay lit?

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree remains lit daily from 6am to midnight throughout the festive season and into early January. The only notable exceptions are Christmas Day, when the tree is lit for 24 hours, and New Year’s Eve, when the tree is lit from 6am until 9 p.m.

What happens to the Tree after the holidays?

Every year since 2007, lumber from the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has been used to help a family build a home through Habitat for Humanity.

Where can you see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree 2024?

The tree is located in front of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The tree view area is very small and very crowded. The best location for the perfect photo is from 5th Avenue at the entrance to Channel Gardens. This is part of the Rockefeller Center complex. The entrance is on 5th Avenue between West 49th Street and West 50th Street. Of course, you can also admire the tree from the openings around the rink.

Little secrets about the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

• The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree should be at least 65 feet tall and 35 feet wide, but the preferred height is usually between 75 and 90 feet tall and proportionately wide.
• The tallest Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center history was in 1999. It was 100 feet tall!
• Erik Pauze, Rockefeller Center’s head gardener, has been in charge of Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree selection for 30 years.
• In 1936, not one but two trees were placed on the newly opened site of today’s ice rink at Rockefeller Plaza. The lighting ceremony even included a skating competition.
• In 1951, NBC televised the first Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting on The Kate Smith Show, hosted by the “first lady of radio” herself. Since then, the Tree lighting ceremony has featured many celebrities, musicians and hosts.
• No monetary compensation is offered to the citizen whose tree will be selected. It is a donation and is considered an honor to have his own Tree be the official Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
• Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is decorated only with lights and a star.
• The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree now uses LED lights. Compared to old incandescent bulbs, LED lights save enough energy each day to power a 2,000 square foot home for a month!
• Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree remains standing until the Christian feast of Epiphany (the official end of the Christmas season).
• In 1942, in honor of war personnel, the traditional large tree was replaced with three smaller trees, decorated in red, white and blue.
• The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is featured in films like Home Alone 2 and Elf, as well as many others.