Rockefeller Center Christmas tree arrives for holidays
The iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has arrived in New York City for preparations ahead of the holiday season.
Over more than eight decades, people have traveled from all over the world to visit the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
While its size and decorations have varied over time, the tree has continued to stand year after year as a beacon of the holiday season.
Over the next couple of months, this year’s tree, adorned with more than 50,000 lights and topped with the iconic Swarovski star, will draw thousands of visitors.
Millions will tune into the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, which is set to air on NBC in December.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and the traditional lighting ceremony.
When is the Rockefeller tree lighting?
The ceremony at 30 Rockefeller Plaza will take place on Dec. 3 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
How can I watch the Rockefeller tree lighting?
The annual “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” broadcast will once again air live on NBC. It will also be simulcast on Peacock.
Who is performing at this year’s Rockefeller tree lighting?
Reba McEntire will take over for Kelly Clarkson as this year’s host of “Christmas in Rockefeller Center,” NBC announced in October.
“I’m really excited to get to go to New York City in December. I’ve never been there in December,” the country music star told People, adding, “To see all the Christmas decorations and to get to be a part of the tree lighting ceremony, Rockefeller Center, it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do and I’m honored that they asked me to do it.”
NBC has not yet announced the “all-star lineup” of musical guests that will be taking the stage at this year’s ceremony. However, according to People, McEntire will be performing in addition to her hosting duties.
Performers at last year’s event included Clarkson, the Backstreet Boys, Dan + Shay, Megan Hilty, Jennifer Hudson, Coco Jones, Little Big Town, RAYE and Thalia.
Where did this year’s Rockefeller Christmas tree come from?
The tree arrived in Manhattan on Nov. 8 after making the journey from East Greenbush, New York.
The tree, a Norway spruce, is 75 feet tall, 45 feet in diameter and weighs about 11 tons. It is about 75 years old.
How long will the Rockefeller Christmas tree be on display?
The tree will remain on display until mid-January.
What happens to the tree after the holidays?
At the end of the season, the tree will be milled into lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity. It will make a pit stop in New Jersey along the way, a Habitat for Humanity spokesperson said.
The tree will be first cut into large pieces, which are transported from Rockefeller Center to a mill in the Garden State where the “initial rough sawing is done.”
After that, the pieces are taken to a landscaping company where they are dried, milled and planed until they are soft and smooth. The finished beams are sent to a Habitat affiliate, typically in the state where the tree was grown, which determines how the lumber will be used.
Lumber for the 2011 and 2014 trees, for example, was used to build the framework of multiple homes in Philadelphia, The Center Magazine reported. The 2007 tree was used to build a home for a family in Mississippi that was displaced by Hurricane Katrina.