Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting 2020

This post provides you with information on how to attend the annual lighting ceremony of the gigantic Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center sometime in early December, as well as viewing the tree throughout the holiday season.

 

 

HOW TO GET HERE

The tree is located in the middle of the Rockefeller Center complex between West 48th and 51st Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues.

Regardless of how you choose to arrive, we recommend using this Google Maps link for directions to the tree.

For information on the best spot to take that perfect picture, see our tips section below.

 

rockefeller-center-tree-map

 

How to Get Here?

By subway:

  • B, D, F and M trains to the 47-50th Street Rockefeller Center stop.
  • 1 Train to the 50th Street stop and walk along 50th Street in the direction of the cars to Rockefeller Center between 5th and 6th Aves.
  • N, Q, or R trains to the 49th Street stop and walk along 49th Street against the traffic to Rockefeller Center between 5th and 6th Aves.
  • E or M to the 5th Avenue/53rd Street stop and walk south on 5th Avenue in the direction of the cars.
  • 6 train to 51 Street Station and walk in direction of cars until 5th Avenue and make a left turn onto 5th Avenue. Walk one block down.

By bus: 

  • Take the M1, M2, M3, M4 or M5 bus to 50th Street. Buses run north and south.

If you are new to the subway system our posts may be of some use to you: Navigating the New York Subway and Which New York City Subway MetroCard to Buy? 

 

NYC Tourist Passes and Discounts

 

THE LIGHTING CEREMONY

Although the tree is erected in mid-November, the lighting ceremony does not take place until some point in early December.  The 2020 date is still unknown.

The lights are switched on at 9 pm.

Starting at 7 pm, there are live performances by top singers and bands, as well as the Radio City Rockettes. 

Performers for 2020 have yet to be announced, and we will update this post once they are.

In past years, performers included Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, Neil Diamond, Josh Groban, Tori Kelly, Sarah McLachlan, Dolly Parton, Jordan Smith, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, and more! 

We recommend that you arrive by 3 pm, and absolutely no later than 4 pm, though going early is even better since the event is always very crowded. 

See below for our tips on where to stand to have a view of the tree and the live performances. 

Seeing the tree at other times

You can see the tree on other nights at Rockefeller Center until the first week of January 2021, at 9 pm. Note that the lights are only on from 5:30 pm until 11:30 pm each night.Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

Visiting the tree is one of our top free, seasonal things to do at night in NYC. 

On Christmas Day, December 25, the tree remains lit for a full 24 hours. On New Year’s Eve, December 31, the lights are turned off early at 9 pm. 

The best location for that perfect picture is from 5th Avenue at the entrance to the Channel Gardens. 

This is part of the Rockefeller Center complex. The entrance is on 5th Avenue between West 49th Street and West 50th Street.

Our Guide to Rockefeller Center has information and a map of the complex and can help you find your way around.

You could also see the tree with us on one of our Midtown Manhattan Walking Tours or let us guide you around the neighborhood with our GPS-enabled audio tour app.

Free New York Tours

 

 TIPS FOR ATTENDING THE CEREMONY

Where to stand to see the Tree Lighting:

The tree is located in front of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The area with views of the tree is very small and will be very crowded. 

Again, go early, by 3 pm the latest if you want to be in a prime location.

You can see the tree from these locations:

  • On Rockefeller Plaza, a short street that is located between West 48th and 51st Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues and also surrounds the ice skating rink (in orange in the image below)
  • In the Channel Gardens, a very narrow pedestrian walkway entered from 5th Avenue between West 49th and West 50th Streets (in green in the image below)
  • You can also see from a segment of 5th Avenue that is between 49th and 50th Street (red star in the image below)

 

Best Spots for Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

 

Where to stand to see the live performances:

The live performances take place in front of the Prometheus Statue in the lower concourse square, which is surrounded by Rockefeller Plaza (in orange in the image above). 

In the photo below, you can see people on the lower level, standing near the stage, lit in red. These people are “VIPs”. This area is not open to the general public. Where to View the Performers for Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

To be able to see the performers you must be in the first few rows of people along the north, south, and east perimeters of the rink. 

If seeing the performers is a priority you should aim to get there by 12 pm or earlier.

Good to know: 

  • The celebration is open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. You do not need a ticket.
  • Aim to get there by 3 pm, and no later than 4 pm or you may not be able to find a spot to see the tree.
  • Street closures for vehicles between Fifth and Sixth Avenues and 48th to 51st Streets begin at 3 pm that day, so taking mass transit is advised.
  • Security: no umbrellas, backpacks or large bags are allowed into the event. There are many places where you can store your bags for a few hours. See our post on Where to Store Luggage in New York City
  • If you can’t make the lighting in person, it is broadcast on TV live on NBC (local channel 4) from 7 pm – 9 pm. It is also streamed live from NBC and other live stream sources.

 

ICE SKATING AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER AND OTHER RINKS

If Rockefeller Center is out of your budget or just not your scene, there are a number of great places to skate, some for free even (provided you have your own skates).  

See our post on Where to Go Ice Skating in New York City.

 

THINGS TO DO AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER AND NEARBY 

There is no shortage of things to do at or near Rockefeller Center. Here are our suggestions:

Visit the Top of the Rock 

Get unparalleled views of New York City at the observatory. See our post with details, prices and how to even get discounts.  

Note: Top of the Rock admission is included in all 3 New York City tourist discount cards.  

If you aren’t sure that Top of the Rock is the view you want, read our post comparing the 3 best observatory decks: Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, or One World Trade Center Observatory?

Take a tour of Radio City Music Hall  

This majestic and lush theater can be viewed on a paid tour. Learn more about the tour, ticket costs, and discounts by reading Radio City Music Hall Stage Door Tour.

Take a walking tour

We invite you to join our pay-what-you-wish guided walking tour of Midtown Manhattan which includes Rockefeller Center.

If you can’t join us, please feel free to enjoy our self-guided tour of Rockefeller Center and also our Midtown Manhattan Self-Guided Tour.

See St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Located right across the street from Rockefeller Center, this historic and impressive cathedral is worth a pop in. You can also take a St. Patrick’s Cathedral Tour.

Visit the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

Just two blocks away, this is one of the premier modern art museums in the world. Here’s how you can visit it for free! Check out our MoMA post for the details.

 

OTHER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES 

See the insanely over-the-top holiday lights of Brooklyn‘s Dyker Heights neighborhood. 

Shop at the many Christmas Markets in New York City.

Take our New York Holiday Lights Tour (see video below).

See a holiday show!

Look at our Guide to Christmas in New York City for even more information!

 

 
 

HISTORY AND FUN FACTS

Although the first official Rockefeller Tree was lit in 1933, the very first Christmas tree at the center was erected in by the construction workers who were building Rockefeller Center in 1931.  

This first tree was just 20 feet tall and was decorated with paper garlands, cranberries, and even a few tin cans.

Remember, 1931 was a year in the midst of the Great Depression in America.

But if all the workers could get hold of were tin cans, they were not going to let any obstacle prevent them from celebrating Christmas. (A great history of Rockefeller Center can be found here.)

  • The tree must be at least 65 feet tall and 35 feet wide, but the preferred height is usually between 75 and 90 feet tall and proportionally wide. 
  • The tallest Rockefeller Tree in history was in 1999: 100 feet tall!
  • Most of the trees are Norway Spruces.  Because this tree doesn’t typically grow to this size in the New York area, most of the trees are cultivated in peoples’ yards.
  • A helicopter flies over New Jersey and Connecticut to scour the area for potential candidates.
  • There is no monetary compensation offered for the tree if yours is selected.  It is a donation and considered an honor to have your tree as the official Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
  • The tree is only decorated with lights and a star.
  • There are over 30,000 lights on the tree (about 5 miles of strands!)
  • The star used on the current trees was made of Swarovski crystal.  The star is 10 feet tall, weighs 550 lbs and has 25,000 crystals.
  • The tree now uses LED lights.  As compared to the old incandescent bulbs, the LED lights save enough energy every day to power a 2,000 sq ft home for a month!
  • The tree stays up until the Christian Feast of the Epiphany (the official end to the Christmas season).
  • The tree is recycled after it is taken down.  Over three tons of mulch can be made from the trees.
  • In 1942, in honor of the war effort, the traditional large tree was replaced with three smaller trees, decorated in red, white and blue.
  • The Rockefeller Christmas Tree is seen in the films Home Alone 2 and Elf, as well as several others.

Happy Holidays!!

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About the author

Stephen is the CEO of Free Tours by Foot and has overseen the transformation of a local walking tour company into a global tour community and traveler’s advice platform. He has personally led thousands of group tours in the US and Europe, and is an expert in trip planning and sightseeing, with a focus on budget travelers.

Stephen has been published and featured in dozens of publications including The Wall Street Journal, BBC, Yahoo, Washington.org, and more.