50,000 colorful lights were lit on Rockefeller Center’s iconic Christmas tree Wednesday evening to cheer the crowds that had gathered to witness the annual New York tradition. The giant spruce tree, which this year comes from a tiny town in Massachusetts, is also crowned with a Swarovski star crown with 3 million crystals. Related video above: Crowds flocked to a Massachusetts town in early November to ship the 74-foot-tall New York Rockefeller Christmas tree. The tree was cut down last month in West Stockbridge and trucked to Rockefeller Plaza. Related video below: This is what it looked like when crews put the tree up after it arrived in NYC. Wednesday evening’s ceremony marked the culmination of the tree’s long journey to New York. This began in 2020 when the center’s head gardener spotted the tree and asked its owners if they would consider donating it. The famous holiday attraction, located above the skating rink at the Rockefeller Center Ice Rink, will be on display through mid-January. On Christmas Day the tree is lit for 24 hours. Once the holidays are over, the tree will be used as lumber for Habitat for Humanity. Security was tightened for the annual tree lighting ceremony after a gunman killed UnitedHealthcare’s CEO on Wednesday morning outside a hotel in Midtown Manhattan, about five blocks from Rockefeller Center. Department Chief Jeffrey B. Maddrey said earlier in the day that there would be a “massive presence” of police and additional officers in the subway. “This is a terrible event, but people will go ahead and enjoy the tree lighting tonight,” he said.

NEW YORK –

On Wednesday evening, 50,000 colorful lights were illuminated on Rockefeller Center’s iconic Christmas tree to cheer the crowds that had gathered to witness the annual New York tradition.

The giant spruce tree, which this year came from a tiny town in Massachusetts, is also topped with a Swarovski star crown with 3 million crystals.

Similar video above: Crowds flocked to a Massachusetts town in early November to ship New York’s Rockefeller Christmas tree

The 74-foot-tall tree was cut down in West Stockbridge last month and trucked to Rockefeller Plaza.

Julia Demaree Nikhinson

Related video below: This is what it looked like when crews put the tree up after it arrived in NYC

Wednesday night’s ceremony marked the culmination of the tree’s long journey to New York, which began in 2020 when the center’s head gardener spotted the tree and asked its owners if they would consider donating.

The famous holiday attraction above the Rockefeller Center ice skating rink will be on display until mid-January. On Christmas Day the tree is lit for 24 hours.

Once the holiday season is over, the tree will be used as lumber for Habitat for Humanity.

Security was tightened for the annual tree lighting ceremony after a gunman killed the CEO of UnitedHealthcare on Wednesday morning outside a hotel in midtown Manhattan, about five blocks from Rockefeller Center. Department Chief Jeffrey B. Maddrey said earlier in the day there would be a “massive police presence,” including additional officers, in the subway.

“This is a terrible event, but people will go ahead and enjoy the tree lighting tonight,” he said.