Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting 2025

New York City — December 3, 2025 — Midtown Manhattan sparkled tonight as the 2025 Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center was lit in a dazzling ceremony, kicking off the holiday season in iconic style. The 75-foot Norway spruce, donated by the Russ family from East Greenbush, New York, took center stage at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, its 50,000 multicolored LED lights and a majestic Swarovski crystal star illuminating the winter night. People.com +2 rockefellercenter.com +2 🌲 From Forest to Icon This year’s tree journey began in suburban East Greenbush, New York, where the spruce — estimated to be around 75 years old — stood on the Russ family property. After being cut down on November 6, the spruce traveled roughly 150 miles to Manhattan and was hoisted into place on November 8. rockefellercenter.com +2 rockefellercenter.com +2 Once erected, crews wrapped the tree with over five miles of wiring, adding more than 50,000 LED lights. The top was crowned with a massive Swarovski star — 9 feet wide, weighing 900 pounds, and encrusted with over 3 million crystals. NY1 +2 rockefellercenter.com +2

🎤 The Ceremony & Celebration The official lighting ceremony began at 7:00 p.m. EST and lasted until around 10:00 p.m., marking the lighting moment that mesmerized crowds and viewers around the world. People.com +2 Visit Manhattan +2 The 2025 celebration was hosted by country-music star Reba McEntire, making her debut as the host of the nationally televised “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” special. People.com +1 The evening featured a lineup of top performers including Michael Bublé, Halle Bailey, Marc Anthony, Gwen Stefani, Kristin Chenoweth, alongside celebrated groups and artists — promising music, joy, and a sense of global unity under the holiday lights. People.com +2 NY1 +2 Also making the event even more special, the famed Radio City Rockettes — celebrating their 100th anniversary — graced the stage, bringing decades of tradition and performance excellence to the festive night.

People.com +2 NY1 +2 🎆 What the Tree Means: Tradition, Hope & Community The tradition of lighting a Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center dates back to the early 1930s, when workers pooled resources to decorate a modest fir — a symbol of hope during the Great Depression. Since 1933, the tree-lighting ceremony has become an annual holiday landmark for New Yorkers and travelers worldwide. Wikipedia +2 NY1 +2 This year’s spruce carries its own story — donated by a family in honor of a loved one — symbolizing a gesture of memory, love, and renewal. For the community and countless visitors, the glowing tree stands for unity, shared joy, and the magic of the holiday season. rockefellercenter.com +2 NY1 +2 The tree will remain lit daily, from early morning until midnight, through mid-January 2026 — giving plenty of time for residents and tourists to soak in the festive spirit, capture holiday photos, or just pause and reflect under the glow of lights.