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Rockefeller Tree Lighting 2019: How to watch, who is performing & more

The holiday season is almost here.
Image:
Diane Bondareff / AP
By Danielle Wolf and Emily Schwartzberg

Nothing says the holidays in New York City like the window displays on Fifth Avenue, the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park and the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.

The tree has been a holiday staple in Rockefeller Center every year since 1931, with the lighting being broadcast live around the world since 1951.

This year, the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

Visiting hours will be 6 a.m. to midnight daily through Jan. 17, 2020. On Christmas Day, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will be lit for a full 24 hours.

5 facts about the 2019 Rockefeller Christmas tree:

  • The tree is 77 feet tall, 46 feet wide and weighs approximately 12 tons.
  • The Norway Spruce tree, which is estimated to be between 70 and 75 years old, hails from from Florida, New York, in Orange County, and was donated by Carol Schultz.
  • The tree will be topped with a newly redesigned star from Swarovski and famed architect Daniel Libeskind. The star weighs approximately 900 pounds and features 70 spikes covered in 3 million crystals.
  • After Jan. 17, the tree will be donated to Habitat For Humanity.

When is the Rockefeller Center tree lighting?

The Rockefeller Center tree lighting festivities start at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4. However, the actual tree lighting will happen around 9 p.m., and the event is set to end at 10 p.m.

For those in New York hoping to watch live, spots are first-come, first-serve. Plan on arriving at Rockefeller Center around 3 p.m., but no later than 4 p.m., to secure a good view.

How to watch the Rockefeller Center tree lighting?

The 87th annual tree lighting will be broadcast nationally on NBC from 8 p.m to 10 p.m EST. The holiday season kickoff event will be hosted by TODAY anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker and Craig Melvin.

Be sure to tune in for Mario Lopez, Stefan Holt, and Natalie Pasquarella's pre-show at 7 p.m. EST on NBC.

Who is performing at the Rockefeller tree lighting 2019?

Throughout the night, there will be performances from a star-fueled lineup, including: