Every year, the beginning of the holiday season in New York City is marked by the lighting of The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. The gigantic 85-foot Christmas Tree, will be lit tonight (Dec. 3) during a star-studded event, featuring performances from Prince Royce, Darius Rucker and the Rockettes, Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett, Cyndi Lauper featuring Billy Porter, Seth MacFarlane featuring Sara Bareilles, Idina Menzel, Pentatonix, LeAnn Rimes, and Trisha Yearwood. Mariah Carey was also set to perform during a pre-taped concert, however, TMZ reports that she missed her scheduled show. Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend tonight with millions tuning in.
The special will be broadcast from 7-9 p.m. EST from Rockefeller Plaza between West 48th and West 51st Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and Natalie Morales will host the extravaganza. The lighting ceremony will broadcast live on NBC starting at 8 p.m. EST with an additional live hour of the special beginning at 7 p.m. on select NBC stations. Check your local listings. Online streaming of the performances are restricted due to licensing.
The 82nd annual holiday event will feature the 85-foot-tall Norway spruce from Hemlock Township, Penn. It is approximately 90 years old and weighs approximately 13 tons, according to a press release. The tree will stay lit with 45,000 LED lights 8 p.m. until Jan. 7, 2015.
According to CBS New York, the NYPD said the following streets will be subject to closures from about 3 p.m. until the end of the event: 48th, 49th, 50th, and 51st Streets between Avenue of the Americas and Fifth Avenue. If you plan to attend the event in person, make sure to get there earlier as spots are first-come, first-served.
CBS also reports that Mayor Bill de Blasio has cancelled his appearance at the event following the grand jury's decision not to indict NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo in the death of Eric Garner, who died after being placed in a chokehold.
Will you be tuning in? Let us know in the comments section below!
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