It’s the tree of all trees and we wait around for it all year. There are people who have the job of selecting the tree that represents Rockefeller Center and so much more. Especially in 2020. So, more than ever, all eyes have been on the Christmas Tree in 2020 and when it arrived, social media blew up! There has been a lot of fun poked at the tree since delivery and in some ways that is par for the course for this year.  However, tradition is tradition and we stand for all things it represents.

For more than eight decades, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has stood as a holiday beacon for New Yorkers and visitors alike. While the lights, decorations, and stars have changed through the years, visiting the Tree remains a quintessential New York experience. And while the pandemic has taken many things away from us, it won’t take away Christmas or the Holiday Season. We’re New Yorkers and we’ll adapt and change to make it happen but there will be a tree and we cannot wait to light it up!

The 88th Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on Wednesday, December 2nd will be closed to the public. The tree will be lit during a live national television broadcast on NBC at 9:45 pm.

The 88th Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will be lit and on display starting Thursday, December 3, through early January 2021 from 6 am to 12 am daily. The tree lighting on Wednesday, December 2, will be closed to the public.  To ensure a safe experience for everyone, visiting the plaza will be a bit different this year. There will be special tree viewing entrances and traffic patterns, tree viewing time limits, and masks and social distancing will always be required.

This does not mean that you cannot visit the tree. It will just be a little different. For more information, visit https://www.rockefellercenter.com/holidays/rockefeller-center-christmas-tree-lighting/