New York City – Fifty thousand vibrant lights illuminated the famous Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center on Wednesday evening, delighting the crowds gathered to partake in this beloved annual event.

The towering Norway spruce, sourced from a small town in Massachusetts, is topped with a stunning Swarovski star adorning three million crystals.

Standing at 74 feet (23 meters), the tree was cut down last month in West Stockbridge and transported to Rockefeller Plaza. The lighting ceremony on Wednesday signified the end of a lengthy journey that began in 2020 when the head gardener at Rockefeller Center noticed the tree and approached its owners with the invitation to donate it.

This iconic holiday attraction, positioned above the Rockefeller Center ice skating rink, will be on display until mid-January. On Christmas Day, the lights will shine brightly for a full 24 hours.

After the holiday festivities conclude, the tree will be repurposed as lumber to assist Habitat for Humanity, contributing to a charitable cause.

In light of security concerns, heightened measures were implemented for the annual tree-lighting ceremony following a tragic incident earlier that day, where a gunman fatally shot the CEO of UnitedHealthcare near a midtown Manhattan hotel, roughly five blocks from Rockefeller Center. Chief of Department Jeffrey B. Maddrey indicated the presence of a substantial police force, including augmented officers patrolling the subway system, to ensure public safety.

“This is a tragic event, but people will still come out to enjoy the tree lighting tonight,” Maddrey stated, reinforcing the spirit of the holiday season amidst the circumstances.