Christmas at Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center, home of New York City’s most famous Christmas tree, is a favorite holiday destination for locals and tourists alike.

History

The first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was put up in 1931 by construction workers building the complex, and the first formal tree-lighting ceremony took place in 1933. Today, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is the biggest, brightest, and most famous evergreen in the U.S.

The Tree

Every year, the manager of the Rockefeller Center gardens searches for the perfect tree. Trees have been shipped from as far away as Ottawa, Canada. The chosen evergreen tends to be between 75’ and 100’ tall and is decorated with 30,000+ lights. The holiday season in New York officially begins with the tree lighting ceremony in Rockefeller Center shortly after Thanksgiving and the tree usually stays lit through early January.

Festive Decorations

The Christmas tree is only the centerpiece of Rockefeller Center at Christmas. Among the other holiday decorations are the herald angels, wire-sculpted angel figures that have decorated Rockefeller Center during the holidays since 1954. The holiday lights and the picturesque ice skaters also add to the festive scene at Rockefeller Center every holiday season.

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