Rockefeller Tree Lighting Live Updates: Watch the Highlights
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Rockefeller Tree Lighting Live Updates: Watch the Highlights

Posted on by Amelia Pressman

The Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center was lit, marking the true beginning of the holiday season for many. The lighting of our giant tree attracts thousands of people to Rockefeller Plaza. The tradition goes back to 1933.

Snow fell gently in New York City as the giant tree was illuminated with 50,000 colorful lights and a Swarovski crystal star on December 4th. This year’s tree, a spruce 74 feet tall and 43 feet wide, comes from West Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It weighs about 11 tons and is about 70 years old.

The two-hour live show “Christmas at Rockefeller Center” aired December 4 on both NBC and Peacock. (Peacock is owned by TODAY.com’s parent company, NBCUniversal.)

Security forces were on high alert at the iconic celebration after a shocking fatal shooting occurred just blocks away that same morning. As the manhunt for the shooter continued across the city, the tree lighting was a peaceful and joyful event hosted by TODAY’s Kelly Clarkson along with Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker.

If you missed the snowy celebration, you can catch up on every special performance here.

US HOLIDAY RELIGION CHRISTMAS ROCKEFELLER
Behind the scenes: TODAY’s Craig Melvin, Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker watch Little Big Town’s performance at the tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center. KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images

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