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Christmas tree placed annually in Rockefeller Center

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a large Christmas tree placed annually in Rockefeller Center, in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, United States. The tree is put in place in mid November and lit in a public ceremony on the last Wednesday of November or first Wednesday of December and the first Wednesday following Thanksgiving. Since 1997, the lighting has been broadcast live, to hundreds of millions, on NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center telecast. The tree lighting ceremony is aired at the end of every broadcast, following live entertainment and the tree is lit by the current Mayor of New York City, the CEO and president of Tishman Speyer and special guests. An estimated 125 million people visit the attraction each year. The official 2023 Christmas Tree Lighting occurred during a live broadcast on November 29, 2023. The tree remained on display until 10:00 PM EST on January 13, 2024. Manager of the Gardens Division of Rockefeller Center, scouted for the desired tree in upstate New York and surrounding states, and even Ottawa in Ontario, Canada. Erik Pauzé, Head Gardener at Rockefeller Center, looks for each year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. He visits nurseries throughout the tri state area and looks for unique backyard trees. Trees are also submitted for consideration through Rockefeller Center's website. Pauzé and his team choose each year's tree based on its heartiness and "Christmas tree shape," as well as its ability to support the heavy ornaments. Once a tree is selected, a crane supports the tree while it is cut, then moved to a custom telescoping trailer able to transport trees up to 125 feet (38 m) tall, although the narrowness of the streets around Rockefeller Center limits the height of the tree to 100 feet (30 m). The tree is then delivered to the city by a local company, Christmas Tree Brooklyn. On its way to Manhattan, the tree is often dressed in giant red bows or banners extending holiday greetings to witnesses. Trucks, barges, and a transport plane have all been used to help the tree make the trip. Once at Rockefeller Center, the tree is supported by four guy wires attached at its midpoint and by a steel spike at its base. Scaffolding is erected around the tree to assist workers in hanging about 50,000 multi colored LED lights and the star top. A new crystal star of Swarovski crystal which tops the tree was created in 2018 and designed by the renowned architect Daniel Liebeskind. The new star features 70 spikes and three million crystals with LED lighting spots by the company Oznium, who worked with the engineers. In total it weighs 900 pounds (408.23 kg).

The first Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center was erected in 1931, during the Depression era construction of Rockefeller Center, when Italian American workers decorated a smaller balsam fir with "strings of cranberries, garlands of paper, and even a few tin cans" With the lighting of the 50 feet (15 m) first official tree two years later, the tree became what Rockefeller Center dubbed "a holiday beacon for New Yorkers and visitors alike". A skating rink was opened below the tree in the plaza in 1936. Since then, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has been a yearly tradition. Workers pooled their money for that unlit tree, with the garlands made by workers' families. According to Rockefeller Center's website, the tree was "from the beginning a gathering place and reflection of what was happening in the world around it". The 1971 65 feet (20 m) tree from East Montpelier, Vermont, was the first to be mulched and recycled. It was turned into 30 three bushel bags of mulch for the nature trails of upper Manhattan. Though the tree typically makes its journey on a truck bed, in 1998 it was flown in from Richfield, Ohio, on the world's largest transport plane. In 2001, following the September 11 attacks, the tree was again decorated in hues of red, white and blue. The LEDs use 1,200 fewer kilowatt hours of electricity per day, enough to power a 2,000 square foot home for a month. In 2014, mayor Bill de Blasio did not participate in the tree lighting ceremony. Since 2009, the tree is lit following a 5 second countdown and since 2011, the tree lighting ceremony has been followed by the singing of Joy to the World performed by a choir. Until 2018, the lighting was the last moment of the program, and has since been moved to the last ten minutes. On November 16, 2020, an adult female northern saw whet owl was found dehydrated and hungry within the wrapped branches of the newly delivered tree during its installation. The bird was discovered by workers who transported the spruce 170 mile (274 km) from Oneonta, New York to New York City. The feathered stowaway, named Rockefeller (Rocky), endured the three day road trip and generated much public interest and media coverage. She was taken to a wildlife center for a check up and nursed to full strength before being released on the grounds of the wildlife center in Saugerties, New York.

The decorated tree remains on display at the plaza entrance of 30 Rockefeller Plaza at least through January 6 of the new year. As of 2019, more than a half million people passed by the tree each day while it is on display, according to Rockefeller Center. The ceremony is hosted by Today's Al Roker (1997–present), Savannah Guthrie (2012–present), and Hoda Kotb (2017–present). In 2007, Ashley Tisdale and Nick Lachey hosted the broadcast with Roker. In 2018, MSNBC and Today anchor Craig Melvin began co hosting the broadcast. In 2022, Mario Lopez filled in for Guthrie and Roker due to her illness and his health complications involving blood clots. Kelly Clarkson hosted in 2023. Until 1997, it had been broadcast before primetime exclusively in New York on WNBC. In 2019, a second hour was added, meaning the tree is now lit just before 10 p. m. ET.

In recent years, celebrity appearances and live performances preceded the tree lighting ceremony and featured some of the biggest names in music. Performers for the broadcast ceremonies have included, over the years, John Legend, Diana Ross, Gwen Stefani, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, Pentatonix, Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Harry Connick Jr., Rosemary Clooney, Annie Lennox, Norah Jones, Aretha Franklin, Cyndi Lauper, Britney Spears, Hilary Duff, Jessica Simpson, Justin Bieber, Busta Rhymes, Mariah Carey, Josh Groban, Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx, Mickey Guyton, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett. The ceremony traditionally includes a performance by The Rockettes.

Year Original location Tree type Height Lighting ceremonyNotes 1931 Balsam fir 20 feet (6 m) Norway spruce 70 feet (21 m) December 20, 1934 1935 Norway spruce 80 feet (24 m) 1936 Morristown, New Jersey Norway spruce 70 feet (21 m)Twin trees with newly opened skating rink 1937 Smithfield, Rhode Island Norway spruce 70 feet (21 m)Twin trees 1938 Norway spruce 70 feet (21 m) December 19, 1938Twin trees 1939 Town Unknown, New Jerseydecorated only with floodlights and one star 1940 Hyde Park, New York Norway spruce 88 feet (27 m) 1942 Huntington, New York, 1944 Long Island, New York Norway spruce 65 feet (20 m)Unlit since 1941. Known as "The Dark Trees" 1945 Syosset, New York Norway spruce 55 feet (17 m) December 14, 1945 1946 Syosset, New York Norway spruce 75 feet (23 m) 1947 Deer Park, New York 1948 Mount Kisco, New York Norway spruce 90 feet (27 m) December 10, 1948 1949 Yaphank, New York December 9, 1949Spray painted white 1951 Lake Ronkonkoma, New York Norway spruce 85 feet (26 m)from Peter Stuyvesant Estate 1953 Morristown, New Jersey 1954 Belvidere, New Jersey Norway spruce 65 feet (20 m) 1955 Belvidere, New Jersey Norway spruce 65 feet (20 m) 1956 Dalton, New Hampshire White spruce 64 feet (20 m) December 6, 1956 1957 Island Pond, Vermont White spruce 67 feet (20 m) 1958 East Madison, Maine White spruce 64 feet (20 m) December 11, 1958 1959 Podunk, Massachusetts Norway spruce 70 feet (21 m) December 10, 1959 1960 North Harford, Pennsylvania Norway spruce 85 feet (26 m) December 7, 1961 1962 Greenville, Maine White spruce 67 feet (20 m) December 6, 1962 1963 Hurley, New York Norway spruce 60 feet (18 m) December 12, 1963 1964 Lake Carmel, New York Norway spruce 60 feet (18 m) December 10, 1964 1965 Darien, Connecticut Norway spruce 60 feet (18 m) December 9, 1965 1966 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada White spruce 64 feet (20 m) 1967 Coventry, Vermont Balsam fir 65 feet (20 m) 1968 Holland, Vermont Balsam fir 70 feet (21 m) December 11, 1969 1970 Coventry, Vermont Norway spruce 75 feet (23 m) 1979 Spring Valley, New York Norway spruce 70 feet (21 m) December 8, 1980 1981 West Danville, Vermont Norway spruce 75 feet (23 m) December 9, 1985 1986Nanuet, New York Norway spruce 68 feet (21 m) December 1, 1986 1987 Suffern, New York Norway spruce 70 feet (21 m) December 4, 1989 1990 West Norwalk, Connecticut Norway spruce 65 feet (20 m) December 2, 1992 1993 Nanuet, New York Norway spruce 90 feet (27 m) December 3, 1996 1997 Stony Point, New York Norway spruce 75 feet (23 m) December 2, 1998 1999 Killingworth, Connecticut Norway spruce 100 feet (30 m) December 1, 1999 2000 Buchanan, New York Norway spruce 80 feet (24 m) November 29, 2000 2001 Wayne, New Jersey Norway spruce 81 feet (25 m) November 28, 2001 2002 Bloomsbury, New Jersey Norway spruce 76 feet (23 m) December 4, 2002 2003 Manchester, Connecticut Norway spruce 71 feet (22 m) November 30, 2004 2005 Wayne, New Jersey Norway spruce 74 feet (23 m) November 30, 2005 2006 Ridgefield, Connecticut Norway spruce 88 feet (27 m) November 29, 2006 2007 Shelton, Connecticut Norway spruce 84 feet (26 m) November 28, 2007 2008 Hamilton Township, New Jersey Norway spruce 72 feet (22 m) December 3, 2008 2009 Easton, Connecticut Norway spruce 76 feet (23 m) December 2, 2009 2010 Mahopac, New York Norway spruce 74 feet (23 m) November 30, 2010 2011 Mifflinville, Pennsylvania Norway spruce 74 feet (23 m) November 30, 2011 2012 Flanders, New Jersey Norway spruce 80 feet (24 m) November 28, 2012 2013 Shelton, Connecticut Norway spruce 76 feet (23 m) December 4, 2013 2014 Danville, Pennsylvania Norway spruce 85 feet (26 m) December 3, 2014 2015 Gardiner, New York Norway spruce 78 feet (24 m) December 2, 2015 2016 Oneonta, New York Norway spruce 94 feet (29 m) November 30, 2016 2017 State College, Pennsylvania Norway spruce 75 feet (23 m) November 29, 2017 2018 Wallkill, New York Norway spruce 72 feet (22 m) November 28, 20182019 Florida, New York Norway spruce 77 feet (23 m)December 4, 20192020 Oneonta, New YorkNorway spruce 75 feet (23 m)December 2, 20202021 Elkton, MarylandNorway spruce 79 feet (24 m)December 1, 20212022Queensbury, New YorkNorway spruce 82 feet (25 m)November 30, 202250,000 LED lights & Swarovski crystal star; remained on display until January 14, 20232023Vestal, New YorkNorway spruce 80 feet (24 m)November 29, 2023More than 50,000 multi colored, LED lights; crowned with a Swarovski star