Photos: 2020 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lit!

Last night, the 2020 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree had its official lighting ceremony. It was a very different affair from year’s past, due to the social distancing requirements during the coronavirus pandemic. But the end result is as festive and holiday as ever.

Photo by Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer

This year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has had quite the adventure. The 75-foot Norway spruce was cut and transported to New York City from a residential property in Oneonta, New York on November 13th. After arrival, it seemed like all New Yorkers wanted to identify with the tree somehow, which some said looked a little worse for wear much like the whole year of 2020. Rockefeller Center responded on Instagram, “Wow, you all must look great right after a two-day drive, huh? Just wait until I get my lights on!” That day came yesterday (after an exciting rescue of an owl from the tree which had traveled with it from Oneonta).

Photo by Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer

The 2020 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is decorated with more than 50,000 multi-colored energy efficient lights topped by a Swarovski star designed by architect Daniel Libeskind. The star weights 900 pounds and contains three million Swarovski double cone crystals. The tree was lit last night by Mayor Bill de Blasio and Tishman Speyer President and CEO Rob Speyer who pressed a ceremonial button. Musical performances by Dan + Shay and Tori Kelly took place on the Rockefeller Center ice skating rink, broadcast live on national television.

Dan + Shay perform at the 88th Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Photo by Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer

The 2020 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree will be lit from 6 AM to midnight daily, and is live streamed from 8 AM to midnight daily at rockefellercenter.com. There has also been a lot of drama around how the public can access the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree this year. No, tickets won’t be needed. A spokesperson for Rockefeller Center confirmed for us, “There are no tickets to view the tree and advance reservations are not required.” Instead, there will be a virtual queuing system that will issue a QR code to visitors upon arrival. Scanning the code will tell the visitor how long the current wait time is and they will receive a text message on when they should return to the line to see the tree. There will be dedicated tree-viewing zones and you’ll be directed into “delineated pods” placed six feet apart that can fit for people. Groups with more than four people will get separated into two pods.

Photo by Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer

The Center Plaza at Rockefeller Center will be closed off to the public during the time the tree is up, until early January 2021. 49th and 50th streets will also be closed to vehicular traffic. The ice skating rink is open and you can access it on 49th Street between 5th and 6th avenues. The Channel Gardens is open for shopping but not tree viewing.

Next, check out the Top 10 Secrets of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Join us for our upcoming virtual talk on the Christmastime Animal Tales of Jolly Old Gotham.