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If you’ve stepped foot anywhere near midtown Manhattan lately, you’ve probably felt the vibe shift.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is up and New York is about to enter its annual “we live here, too” season. Tonight’s lighting is a beloved tradition, sure, but being 20 minutes late to every evening commitment because you didn’t realize half the streets between 46th and 52nd are shut down never sits well.
The tree, a giant Norway spruce from East Greenbush, New York, made its journey to Rockefeller Center last month and now gets its big moment today as the switch is flipped, illuminating it in more than 50,000 LED lights. It’s roughly 75 feet tall, weighs around 11 tons and will be crowned with a 900-pound Swarovski star designed by Daniel Libeskind.
The lighting itself takes place during the “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” spectacular. Reba McEntire hosts this year’s broadcast, which will start at 8pm and feature performances by Marc Anthony, Halle Bailey, Michael Bublé, New Edition and more. The big moment—when the plaza collectively gasps and every tourist within 10 blocks starts filming—comes just before 10pm.
The light is its own spectacle, but it’s one that comes along with unavoidable street closures. The NYPD has designated it the month’s first Gridlock Alert Day (take that as you will) and the frozen-zone footprint is not small.
Here are all the street closures you should be aware of (read: the streets to avoid all day today):
- 46th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
- 47th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
- 48th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
- 49th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
- 50th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
- 51st Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
- 52nd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
- Rockefeller Plaza between 48th and 51st Streets
- Sixth Avenue between 46th and 52nd Streets
- Fifth Avenue between 46th and 52nd Streets
In other words: if you were planning a quick crosstown shortcut through midtown this evening, don’t.
Once the lighting ceremony is over, the tree will remain lit daily from 5am to midnight through mid-January (24 hours on Christmas Eve and until 9pm on New Year’s Eve).