Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree 2023: Dates, Schedule, & Everything Else We Know So Far

New York City during Christmas is magical. The hustle and bustle of holiday shoppers, the lights and decorations, the sound of Christmas carols echoing throughout the streets—all of it is glorious. If you haven’t experienced The Big Apple during the Christmas Season, you should absolutely make it a priority, most especially for the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Nothing says Christmas like the annual tree lighting in the heart of New York City! Keep reading for all of the details about the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree 2023.

The History of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

You can find the famous Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan. The lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has been a holiday tradition since 1933, even though the very first tree dates back to Christmas Eve 1931. During this very first lighting, the tree was only 20 feet tall, and it was decorated with paper garland, cranberries, and a few ornaments. However, by December 1933, the holiday lighting was an official ceremony.

Rockefeller Center’s construction began at the height of the Great Depression, and by the time it was completed, the site was the official location of the annual holiday celebration. Over the past 90 years, the tree has gone through several stylings and iterations. After World War II, the tree was unlit because of blackout regulations. Following the September 11th attacks, the tree was decorated in red, white, and blue. In 2007, the tree began using LED lights. 

No matter the changes throughout the past century, the tree has remained an iconic display at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Since 1997, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting has been broadcast live on NBC. 

How Tall Is the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree?

The very first Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree was only 20 feet tall. However, the tree is usually a Norway spruce and is anywhere between 69-100 feet tall. The size and age of the 2023 tree has not been released yet.

What Happens to the Tree After the Holidays?

Since 2007, and thanks to the shift towards energy efficiency and sustainable practices, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has been donated to Habitat for Humanity. The tree is used to help a family build a home. Once the tree is taken down from Rockefeller Center, it is milled into two-by-four and two-by-six beams, which are then donated to Habitat for Humanity. The tree’s wood has been sent as far as Mississippi and California and has stayed as close as New York City.

The 2023 Celebration Details

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting will take place on November 29, 2023. This iconic celebration marks the start of the holiday season, especially for New Yorkers. The tree is lit precisely at 9:57 p.m. However, the evening officially begins at 7 p.m. and features musical guests and performances. 

This year, Kelly Clarkson is hosting the two-hour live special. Clarkson will also be one of the scheduled performers, which conveniently marks the 20th anniversary of her first Christmas in Rockefeller Center performance. 

The names of other guests and performers have not yet been released.

Although you can watch the ceremony live on NBC, you can also attend the lighting ceremony in person. The ceremony is located between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue, and between 49th Street and 50th Street. If you plan to attend in person, many recommend arriving before 3 p.m. to obtain a good view. 

When Will the Tree Arrive?

The Rockefeller Christmas Tree will arrive in New York City on November 11, 2023. The tree is carefully removed from a track and then lifted onto the plaza via a crane. This process takes about two hours. Any spectators are offered pieces of tree branches as a memento. 

Between November 12-28, scaffolding is added around the tree and workers begin diligently preparing the tree for the holiday season. Nearly 50,000 lights are added, and right before the lighting, the famous Swarovski star is placed atop the tree.

The tree is lit daily from 5 a.m.-12 a.m. until January 13, 2024, at 10:00 p.m. On Christmas Day, the tree is lit for 24 hours; on New Year’s Eve, the tree is lit from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. You can visit the tree from November 30 until it is removed in January 2024. At that point, the tree will be milled and sent to the location where it will become a home with Habitat for Humanity. 

The 2023 Rockefeller Center Christmas Lighting Celebration 

Nothing can match the energy of New York at Christmas! The tree lighting moment is spectacular, but visiting the tree amongst the hustle and bustle of holiday shoppers is another experience entirely. The holiday atmosphere of New York is thrilling, and no matter whether you watch it on NBC or experience it live and in-person, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting is a must-see!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © NYCLA/iStock via Getty Images