All About the Rockefeller Tree Lighting

On Wednesday, November 30th, the annual tree lighting at Rockefeller Center will be taking place. For many, this is the symbolic start to the Christmas season.

Here we share the history of the tree lighting, some fun facts, and what you can expect at the 2022 tree lighting ceremony.

The History of the Rockefeller Center

The Rockefeller itself dates back to 1928, when business tycoon John D. Rockefeller leased land for the future Rockefeller Center. The space leased spanned three square blocks. One of New York City s most iconic landmarks, the Rockefeller Center was originally intended for vaudeville shows before transitioning to a movie house. More than 700 films have premiered there since 1933.

Before construction was even complete on the Rockefeller Center, in 1931, Great Depression-era workers pooled their funds to purchase the first-ever Christmas tree for the Center. A 20 foot balsam fir, the tree became a symbol of hope and optimism during trying financial times. Two years later, the Rockefeller Center made the tree an annual tradition. At this first official lighting ceremony, the tree was 50 feet tall and adorned with 700 twinkling lights.

In 1936, the skating pond was added to the Rockefeller Center. Legend has it that the skating pond idea was courtesy of a skate salesman who demonstrated his skates on the ice in the Rockefeller Center fountain, and thus inspired the idea for a skating pond.

In 1952, The Today Show made it s debut at Rockefeller Center. The Tonight Show followed suit in 1962, and Saturday Night Live followed in 1975. Rockefeller Center has served as the backdrop for countless movies and shows, including Tin Fey s 30 Rock sitcom, which was modelled after the behind-the-scenes shenanigans at Saturday Night Live.

The Deets for 2022

As is customary, the tree will be lit from 6:00 am 12:00 am daily from November 30th until it comes down (this date is still to be determined).

The lighting will take place via NBC s live national broadcast of Christmas at Rockefeller Center at 8:00 pm EST on Wednesday, November 30th. Public access is also typically made available.

The 90-year-old tree itself is a bit of a beast. An 82-foot tall, 50-foot wide tree, it weighs in at 14 tons (which is roughly the equivalent of the weight of two elephants and big ones at that).

For the last three decades, Erik Pauze, the Rockefeller Centers head gardener, has been tasked with selecting, nurturing, and transporting the annual Christmas tree. And Pauze takes this role seriously. As he shared in a recent Q & A, what I look for is a tree you would want in your living room, but on a grander scale. It s got that nice, perfect shape all around. And most of all, it s gotta look good for those kids who turn the corner at 30 Rock; it needs to instantly put a huge smile on their faces. It needs to evoke that feeling of happiness.

There are over 50,000 LED lights on the tree (five miles worth). The star that goes atop the tree is a three-dimensional Swarovski star that was designed in 2018, weights 900 pounds, and features seven spikes covered in 3 million crystals. Bling bling!

Fun Facts About the Rockefeller Tree Lighting

Read on for some little known tidbits about America s favorite tree-dition:

  • More than 125 million people view the Rockefeller tree every year
  • The tree size has grown exponentially in the past several decades originally a mere 20 footer, 1971 s tree was over three times as tall at 65 feet, 1999 s version was 100 feet tall, and nowadays 80ish feet is the height of choice
  • What happens to Rockefeller Christmas trees once their 15 minutes of fame is up? They are milled into lumber which is then donated to Habitat for Humanity and used to build a home
  • During World War II the tree remained unlit due to blackout regulations, and simple yet patriotic red, white, and clue decorations were used
  • Once the tree is selected, a crane supports the tree while it is cut down it is then dressed in giant red bows with banners extending holiday greetings and transported to Rockefeller Center
  • The tree went energy efficient in 2007 by converting to LEDs which use 1,200 fewer kilowatt hours of electricity per day
  • Performers at the tree lighting ceremony over the years have featured some big names including Garth Brooks, Lady Gaga, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Tony Bennett, Dolly Parton, John Legend, and more!

So, mark your calendar for 8:00 pm EST on Wednesday, November 30th, pour yourself some eggnog, and start Christmas off right by taking in the Rockefeller Tree Lighting ceremony. Here are some viewing options:

  • NBC site
  • NCB app
  • Stream on YouTube
  • Peacock site
  • Peacock app
  • Hulu + Live TV
  • fubo TV
  • Sling TV

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