The Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center, NYC
© Seth Harrison, The Journal News, Rockland/Westchester Journal News via Imagn Content Services, LLC
(New York, NY) – The famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting brought in the holiday spirit Wednesday (Dec. 4, 2024) night. For the second year in a row, Kelly Clarkson hosted the star-studded special, which featured performances by the Backstreet Boys, Jennifer Hudson, Coco Jones and more. The high-kicking Radio City Rockettes, star of the annual “Christmas Spectacular” at adjacent Radio City Music Hall, also performed.
Earl Albert honored his late wife, Leslie, by donating a huge Norway spruce tree from the couple’s West Stockbridge, Massachusetts yard to be the 2024 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Albert said he and his wife planted the Norway spruce in 1967, when they were newlyweds. The majestic tree, which was only waist-high when the couple put it into the ground, grew to be 74 feet tall over the next 57 years — making it the ideal height to stand adorned with Christmas lights in Rockefeller Plaza.
The tree is decked out in five miles worth of string lights and a 900-pound star, which features three million crystals and 70 spikes that light up.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree will be decorated and on display until mid-January 2025. After it’s taken down, the tree is donated to Habitat for Humanity.
