The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is nearly ready to turn on and illuminate Midtown for the holiday season!
The Norway Spruce arrived from Oneonta, New York on Saturday, November 14, and has been getting ready for its big night ever since (and it needed plenty of time to do that, considering how it looked when it first arrived!).
On Wednesday evening (tonight), December 2, 50,000 multicolored LED lights will light up the 12-ton tree. The 75-foot-tall Norway Spruce will be topped with a 900-pound Swarovski crystal star that’s adorned with 3-million crystals over 70 spikes that was designed by Daniel Libeskind and first used atop the tree two years ago. You won’t be able to see the ceremony in person this year, it will only be available on TV.
In addition to watching the tree dazzle before us all, the 88th Annual Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Ceremony will feature performances by Kelly Clarkson, Goo Goo Dolls, Earth, Wind & Fire, Jimmy Fallon, Brett Eldredge, Tori Kelly, Leslie Odom Jr., Dolly Parton, Pentatonix, Dan + Shay, Gwen Stefani, Meghan Trainor, the cast of Ain’t Too Proud and the Radio City Rockettes (it will be your only chance to see them since the Radio City Christmas Spectacular was canceled this year).
The NBC-hosted event and broadcast will begin at 8pm on Wednesday, December 2, and will run until about 10pm. And, if you want to visit the tree after, you’ll have to make a reservation and get tickets.
The tree will be illuminated from 6 a.m. through 12 a.m. every night (only until 10:30 p.m. tonight, Dec. 2), but will be lit for a full 24-hours on Christmas Day.
featured image source: shutterstock