NYC Rockefeller tree lighting: Mild evening in store for millions of spectators
Christmas spirit will be in full swing in New York City on Wednesday, Nov. 29, when the Rockefeller Tree Lighting ceremony takes place.
For more than 80 years, a tree has been placed at Rockefeller Center and decorated to show New York City's Christmas spirit.
More than 50,000 lights will glow on this year's tree from State College, Pennsylvania. The Norway spruce is 75 feet tall and weighs at least 24,000 pounds.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree stands lit, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016, in New York. (Photo by Diane Bondareff/Invision for Tishman Speyer/AP Images)
Millions of people will make the trip for the star-studded bash on Wednesday night. Gwen Stefani, Brett Eldridge, Jennifer Nettles, Pentatonix and others will make an appearance alongside NBC's "Today" show hosts.
While the ceremony kicks off at 7 p.m. EST, the tree will be lit at 8:55.
Spectators will be greeted with storm-free skies and mild weather on Wednesday.
After a warm day with temperatures peaking near 60 F, the temperature will fall to near 45 by the time the tree is lit.
"Temperatures during the early evening will be in the 50s then drop into the 40s by late evening," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tom Kines said.
Skies will be mainly clear with light winds.
The tree will stay up throughout the holiday season for the more than 750,000 people that will walk by it every day. When the tree comes down, its lumber will be donated to Habitat for Humanity.
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