Thousands of people have gathered to see Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lights are lit in the largest gathering on the streets of NYC Ever since COVID hit.
City officials said Wednesday’s switch-on attracted one of the biggest crowds in the Big Apple since the virus first struck US shores nearly two years ago.
This year’s celebrations are open to the public, unlike in 2020, when space was strictly limited, and buses were used to block Scene Trees to try to stop people crowding together to see it.
NYPD officials warned that the tree and its surroundings were closed at one stage in the evening, although this was due to routine crowd control issues. The tree sits in a relatively tight space, and measures were taken to prevent the spectators from being crushed.
Stars including Harry Connick Jr., Rob Thomas and Norah Jones performed. Meanwhile, the host of NBC TODAY—who tapes just a few feet from the tree—was chosen to turn on its lights. Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, Hoda Kotb and Craig Melvin join outgoing NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio for a moment of illumination.
Due to the expected crowd of spectators, Mayor Bill de Blasio, the NYPD and the Department of Transportation announced that pedestrian space would be temporarily extended on the streets around Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center, CNN informed of.
Meanwhile, officials urged people to use public transportation in an effort to reduce car traffic in the busy Manhattan district around Rockefeller Center.
A Rockefeller Center spokesperson told CNN Travel that no masks or vaccinations were required this year because tree lighting is an outdoor event.
Pictured: Mayors Bill de Blasio, Rob Spear, Craig Melvin, Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker Light the Tree during the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
A Few Feet From Where the Tree Stands NBC Stars Film Today
The stage is set: an overhead view of Rockefeller Center shows the scale of the Christmas tree lighting ceremony that was held last night
This year’s Christmas tree, pictured, an 85-year-old Norway spruce, arrived in New York City on November 13 after traveling 140 miles from Elkton, Maryland
NYPD police vehicles stop Christmas tree lights after they are turned on for the first time at the 89th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Rockefeller Center on Wednesday.
Thousands gather for the annual spectacle at Rockefeller Plaza
The 2021 Switch On, pictured, had no COVID restrictions, though police had to temporarily close the surrounding streets for crowd control
This year’s tree pictured stands 79 feet tall and weighs about 12 tons
Image: The Radio City Rockets are seen mid-performance in festive red and green outfits during the 89th Annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Pre-Tape on November 30.
The front of the New York Stock Exchange was lit up in festive red and green last night during the 98th annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
Rockefeller Center lit up in a bright shade of festive red last night, with the Christmas tree taking place at the center of the proceedings last night.
Last year, public shows were closed to the public with the exception of shorter viewing times with only small groups of people at scheduled appointment times during the height of the pandemic.
Wednesday’s ceremony was the first since 2019 to be fully open to the public.
The tree, an 85-year-old Norway spruce, reached New York City on November 13 after traveling 140 miles from Elkton, Maryland, according to new York Times,
Last year’s Christmas tree has faced criticism on social media, with users pointing out the tree’s heavy and sloppy appearance, while some commented that last year’s tree was representative of an overall poor year.
This year’s tree, which stands 79 feet tall and weighs about 12 tons, was wrapped in more than 50,000 multicolored LED lights and studded with a three-dimensional Swarovski crystal star weighing about 900 pounds, the Times reported.
Wednesday’s tree, which was designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, also featured 70 spikes covered in 3 million Swarovski crystals.
Pictured: The Radio City Rockets performing at the Tree Lighting Fest Wednesday night
Pictured: People gather in New York City last night, taking some pictures, as they prepare to watch the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Pictured: This year’s tree was wrapped around it before 50,000 multicolored LED lights for Wednesday’s lighting ceremony
This year’s Christmas tree painted with a three-dimensional star weighs about 900 pounds
The front of the New York Stock Exchange was lit up with Christmas colors last night as people gathered to celebrate the 98th annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony in New York City.
A giant Christmas tree covered with a series of colorful lights took to the central stage outside the New York Stock Exchange last night as crowds gathered to enjoy the lighting ceremony
Pictured: The 2021 US Capitol Christmas tree is lit in front of the Capitol Building, on Capitol Hill’s West Front Lawn after a ceremony last night
Image: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi addresses a crowd of people during a ceremony in Washington last night where the Capitol Hill Christmas tree was lit
Thousands attend the 89th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in Midtown Manhattan.
Performing at the festival Wednesday on NBC were artists such as Rob Thomas, Carrie Underwood, Alessia Cara, Brad Paisley, Harry Connick Jr., Mickey Guyton, Norah Jones and the Radio City Rockets.
The Broadway cast of “Come From Away” was also performing at the event.
Meanwhile, the ceremony saw the likes of Mayor Bill de Blasio, Rob Spear, Craig Melvin, Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker Light the Tree during the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.
Today co-anchors Guthrie, Kotb, Roker and Melvin hosted the event.
For those missing Wednesday’s celebrations, the tree will be lit every day from 6 a.m. to midnight, until Christmas Day, when the tree will be lit for 24 hours.
Then on New Year’s Eve, the tree will be lit from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. No date has yet been set as to when the tree will be cut down.
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