NEW YORK – The annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is only days away, signaling the unofficial start of the holiday season in New York City.
For more than 90 years — since the first tree was raised in 1931 — the star-studded event has drawn top performers and massive crowds to Midtown for one of the city’s most beloved holiday traditions.
SKIP TO: Time | Location | Performers | Street Closures
FOX 5 NY will air live coverage of the celebration tonight at 7 p.m. To stream from anywhere, you can watch live in the media player above or download our app, FOX LOCAL, to watch on your smart TV or phone. Click here to download our mobile app now. You can also watch raw, un-anchored coverage of the event on our YouTube page. Check the YouTube event embedded below.
2025 Rockefeller Christmas Tree
What we know:
This year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree comes from the Russ family in East Greenbush, New York, giving the 2025 tree true hometown roots.
The towering Norway spruce stands 75 feet tall, weighs 11 tons, and spans 45 feet in diameter, according to Rockefeller Center.
The 2025 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will be lit on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m., during the live NBC broadcast of “Christmas in Rockefeller Center.”
The ceremony typically features celebrity performances, a crowd of thousands, and a countdown to the moment the 50,000 LED lights and Swarovski star are illuminated.
The tree is located at 45 Rockefeller Plaza in Midtown Manhattan, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.
This year’s show will be hosted by Reba McEntire.Â
Other performers include:
Brad PaisleyGwen StefaniKristin ChenowethLaufeyMarc AnthonyNew Edition
Once lit, the tree will be illuminated daily from 5 a.m. to midnight.
Christmas Eve: Lit for 24 hours
New Year’s Eve: Lit from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The tree will remain on display through early January, after which it will be milled into lumber for Habitat for Humanity, continuing its tradition of giving back.
Rockefeller Christmas Tree over the years
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 22: People walk past the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center on December 22, 2015 in New York City. Despite being only days away from Christmas, New York City and much of the Northeast is experiencing rainy and balmy weather. The forecast for Christmas in New York is for temperatures in the 60’s. Â (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
When was the first Rockefeller Christmas Tree? 
UNITED STATES – DECEMBER 18: Rockefeller Center Inc., 20 Rockefeller Plaza. Christmas tree in Plaza from steps. (Photo by MCNY/Gottscho-Schleisner/Getty Images)
The very first Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree was erected in 1931, when construction workers placed a modest, 20-foot balsam fir at the site as a symbol of hope during the Great Depression.
Expect heavy foot traffic, security checkpoints and significant delays around Rockefeller Center on lighting day. Closures will begin in the afternoon and continue into the evening.
The following streets will be closed:
46th Street between 5th Ave and 6th Ave
47th Street between 5th Ave and 6th Ave
48th Street between 5th Ave and 6th Ave
49th Street between 5th Ave and 6th Ave
50th Street between 5th Ave and 6th Ave
51st Street between 5th Ave and 6th Ave
52nd Street between 5th Ave and 6th Ave
Rockefeller Plaza between 48th St and 51st St
6th Avenue between 46th St and 52nd St
5th Avenue between 46th St and 52nd St
Officials encourage using public transit, arriving early, and preparing for large crowds — Rockefeller Center is one of the city’s busiest holiday destinations.
The Source: This report is based on information from Rockefeller Center.Â