Your Guide to the 2023 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting, Including Who’s Performing and How to Watch.
NBC’s annual tree lighting ceremony will be held in November and broadcast live from Rockefeller Center in NYC.
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(Christmas) Lights, Camera — Action!
The kick-off to the “most wonderful time of the year” is almost here because the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has arrived in New York City and will be lit during NBC’s 91st lighting ceremony.
Every year, according to Rockefeller Center Magazine, the tree — which is always a Northway Spruce — is picked out by the same person: Rockefeller Center’s head gardener, Erik Pauze. This year’s tree weighs in at about 12 tons, stands 80 feet tall and hails from Vestal, New York.
The tree will be decked out with 50,000 multicolored lights (strung on approximately 5 miles of wire!) and topped with a 900-pound star with 70 spikes covered in 3 million Swarovski crystals.
While the lighting ceremony has been broadcast live around the world since 1951, the process of selecting and honoring a different tree to stand in Rockefeller Center has been an annual tradition for 90 years! (Though, the COVID pandemic meant the lighting was closed to the public in 2020.)
The festivities will be hosted by Kelly Clarkson, with appearances by TODAY anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin and Al Roker. Plus, a slew of musical guests will rock around the Christmas tree.
Between how to watch and who else is performing, keep scrolling for everything you need to know about the 2023 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
How to watch the 2023 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony?
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While the plaza will eventually be open to the public with viewing hours posted at a later date, the Christmas in Rockefeller Center special is scheduled to broadcast live on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. ET and available to stream on Peacock.
Who’s performing at the 2023 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony?
There may be only one star on the tree, but there will be many stars on the stage! Between celebrity guests and musical performances, this entertaining evening will be far from a silent night.
Host Kelly Clarkson will be joined by other performers throughout the evening. They include Chloe Bailey, Adam Blackstone, Cher, David Foster, Liz Gillies, Darlene Love, Seth MacFarlane, Barry Manilow, Katharine McPhee, Keke Palmer, Carly Pearce, Manuel Turizo and more.
Plus, the Radio City Rockettes are going to make their Rockefeller return!
