NEW YORK – 50,000 colorful lights were lit on Rockefeller Center’s iconic Christmas tree on Wednesday evening 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.

The 75-foot-tall tree was cut down in West Stockbridge last month and trucked to Rockefeller Plaza. 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 that there would be a “massive police presence” in the subway, including additional officers.

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