# Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree & Plaza Holiday Experience

> Place to go for families in the New York–Newark–Jersey City area (NY / NJ). Times are Eastern Time.

- When: Tree Lighting Ceremony on Wednesday, Dec 2, 2026 (7:00 PM – 10:00 PM). Daily viewing…
- Dates: Wed, Dec 2 – Fri, Jan 15
- Where: Rockefeller Plaza, 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111
- Ages: All ages (open public plaza; pedestrianized holiday streets surround the tree)
- Price: Free to visit and view in Rockefeller Plaza
- Schedule: Tree Lighting Ceremony on Wednesday, Dec 2, 2026 (7:00 PM – 10:00 PM). Daily viewing from Dec 3, 2026 through mid-January 2027: 5:00 AM to midnight daily; lit 24 hours on Christmas Day; 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM on New Year's Eve.
- Organizer: Tishman Speyer / Rockefeller Center
- Official page: https://www.rockefellercenter.com/holidays/
- Last checked: Wed, Nov 4

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/new-york/activities/rockefeller-center-christmas-tree-and-plaza-holiday-experience--listing-81e88b92afb11070e62879a0

## About

The worldwide symbol of Christmas in New York City, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree stands over 75 feet tall on Rockefeller Plaza, adorned with more than 50,000 multicolored energy-efficient LED lights on five miles of wire and crowned with a 900-pound three-dimensional Swarovski crystal star designed by architect Daniel Libeskind. Following the live televised tree-lighting ceremony on Wednesday, December 2, 2026, the plaza and surrounding pedestrian-only blocks along 5th Avenue and 49th–50th Streets offer unforgettable views of the illuminated tree, the classic bronze Prometheus statue, the Channel Gardens herald angels, and the Rink at Rockefeller Center. Family tip: Early morning visits between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM offer magical photos with minimal crowds.

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