Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting at 30 Rockefeller Plaza began as a public holiday tradition in 1933 and has been held annually with occasional exceptions. The event centers on a large Norway spruce placed in Rockefeller Plaza, accompanied by performances and broad media coverage that draw thousands of spectators. The tree lighting ceremony and the adjacent ice rink are enduring elements of New York's seasonal civic rituals and local lore.