The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a New York City holiday tradition. It arrives in mid-November, is lit around month-end, and remains until the first week of January.
In a way, the tree represents the spirit of New York City. The tradition began during a hard time, the Great Depression of the 1930s. It was started by workers, by the people. It was their tree. In good times and bad, the tree keeps going up. Today it is “our” tree. Whether times are good or times are bad, New Yorkers carry on.
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree 2022
The 2022 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will be lit live and on NBC on Wed, Nov 30, 2022. rockefellercenter.com
2021
The 2021 Rockefeller Christmas Tree will be lit live and on NBC on Wednesday, December 1st, 2021 at 8pm. rockefellercenter.com
The tree is lit daily from 6am – midnight. It is lit all day on Christmas Day and until 9pm on New Year’s Eve.
2020
Wednesday, December 2, 2020 ~ Watch the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on NBC from 7-10pm. There is no public access to the ceremony this year to keep New Yorkers safe during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Visiting hours are daily from 6am to 12 midnight. The tree will remain lit until Sunday, January 3, 2020.
November 14, 2020 ~ The tree arrives in Rockefeller Center. There were many complaints about the scraggly tree, but once they set it up, it will certainly be beautiful.
2019
The 2019 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree was lit for the first time on Wednesday, December 4, 2019. It was lit every night through Sunday, January 5, 2020.
2018
The 2018 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will be lit for the first time this season with a ceremony and performances on Wednesday, November 28, 2018 from 7 – 9 pm.
Brett Eldridge, Diana Ross, Tony Bennett, Pentatonix, Ella Mai, Rob Thomas and more stars are joining the celebration. The ceremony will be broadcast live on NBC at 8pm.
The tree is lit daily from 5:30am to 11:30pm through January 7, 2018.
2017
The lighting ceremony is Wednesday, November 29, 2017 from 7-9pm. The tree will remain lit until January 7, 2018
2016
2016’s tree is a 78-foot Norway Spruce. It weighs ten tons and is lit with 45,000 LED lights. The lighting ceremony is Wednesday, November 30 at 7pm.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree tradition was started by construction workers in 1931
Over 100 million New Yorkers and tourists will visit the famous tree. The tradition began while Rockefeller Center was being built.
1931 was the height of the Great Depression. Construction workers put up a 20-foot tree. A few chipped in to pay for decorations.
The tradition became official in 1933 when NBC broadcast the tree lighting ceremony.
When the tree comes down, it is taken to New Jersey, sawed, dried, and made into beams. The wood is then used in Habitat for Humanity houses.
