Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

Skip the tourist version and do it like a local, here’s how.

Decorating a Christmas Tree at the Rockefeller Center is a tradition that dates back to 1933, officially. Unofficially, workers pooled together to buy the first tree in 1931 (amid the crippling Great Depression) when the national unemployment rate crested 23%.

Keen to manifest the holiday spirit, the 20-foot fir was dressed with handmade garlands made by the worker’s families. Two years later, Rockefeller Center decided to make the tree an annual tradition and held the first lighting festival in 1933.

Arguably the most iconic Christmas Tree in New York City, selecting this centerpiece is no easy feat. The tree must be at least 75 feet tall and 45 feet wide (traditionally, a Norway spruce is selected).

Once plucked, the Rockefeller Christmas Tree is decorated with more than 5 miles of lights and crowned with a breathtaking Swarovski star. A masterpiece in its own right, the star is composed of three million crystals and measures 9 feet and 4 inches.

The Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting Festival takes place on December 4, 2024.

Putting up a Christmas Tree at the Rockefeller Center is a tradition that dates back to 1933, officially (unofficially, construction workers put up the first tree in 1931). The 75+ foot tree is draped in more than 50,000 lights and topped with a breathtaking Swarovski star.

Underneath the tree is the Rink at Rockefeller Center, chock-full of families, couples, and tourists ice-skating around and around. The Rockefeller Center during Christmas has a tons of fun things to do including shopping, grabbing a bite, and vibrant decorations making it a must-stop while visiting NYC in December.

A tradition dating back to 1933, the magnificent Rockefeller Christmas Tree soars to heights of 75 feet and gets adorned with more than five miles of lights. Crowned with a breathtaking 9-foot Swarovski star composed of three million crystals, the tree’s lighting ceremony heralds the start of the Christmas season in New York City.

My advice is to visit as early as possible (like first thing in the morning) because the crowds get very intense at this popular New York City holiday attraction. But not without reason, seeing this masterpiece firsthand is an unforgettable experience!

It’s iconic for a reason! Chaotic but absolutely worth it if you go in with realistic expectations, seeing the Rockefeller Tree in person is a must while visiting New York during the holidays. We’ve done early mornings and late nights to avoid the worst of it, and even then, it’s still a bit of a circus.

Parent tip: The tree is typically lit daily from 5 a.m. to midnight, and yes, it really is over 75 feet tall. It requires more than 50,000 LED lights, and every year it’s topped with a Swarovski star that weighs over 900 pounds.