Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting 2017: Ceremony, How To Watch

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — The 75-foot Norwegian spruce that calls Rockefeller Center home this holiday season will be lit for the first time this year on Wednesday. Whether you're planning on going to the event, watching from home or avoiding it, Patch has you covered with everything you need to know about the tree lighting ceremony.

Thousands of people will flock to Midtown Manhattan to catch a glimpse of the tree-lighting ceremony Wednesday. Performers at this year's event include Brett Eldredge, Jennifer Nettles, Leslie Odom Jr., Pentatonix, Gwen Stefani and The Tenors at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

After being lit for the first time Wednesday, the tree will remain on display in Rockefeller Center through Jan. 7. In the tree's post-Rockefeller Center life it will be donated to Habitat for Humanity to be made into lumber to help build homes for those in need.

Wednesday night's ceremony begins at 7 p.m. at 30 Rockefeller Plaza between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. The event, including live musical performances, are expected to run until 9 p.m., according to Rockefeller Plaza officials. The tree was delivered to New York earlier in November from its home in State College, Pennsylvania.

If you're planning on seeing the tree lighting live, here are some tips from the NYPD:

• All spectators must pass through security checkpoints to view the tree lighting. These checkpoints are located at 48th, 49th and 50th streets at both Fifth and Sixth avenues.
• Umbrellas, large coolers, alcoholic beverages, backpacks and large bags are not allowed through security.

If you can't make it to Rockefeller Center — or don't want to be part of the large crowd there — you can watch the tree-lighting ceremony live on NBC. Anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker will host the broadcast, which starts at 8 p.m. eastern time.

The head gardener for Rockefeller Center discovered this year's tree by chance while driving in 2010. Long Island resident Erik Pauze had reportedly been on the way to his son's football game in State College, Pennsylvania, when he spotted the tree and stopped to knock on the resident's door seven years ago.

During Wednesday night's ceremony the NYPD will shut down many streets in the proximity of Rockefeller Center. If you're planning on attending the tree lighting, you should travel to Rockefeller Center by public transportation. The closest subway to the plaza is the 47-50th Street Rockefeller Center station on the B, D, F and M lines.

The NYPD will begin closing down a number of streets to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic starting at 3 p.m. Wednesday, police said.

Here's a full list of street closures near Rockefeller Center, provided by the NYPD:

• 5th Avenue between 46th Street and 52nd Street
• 6th Avenue between 46th Street and 52nd Street
• 46th Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue
• 47th Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue
• 48th Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue
• 49th Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue
• 50th Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue
• 51st Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue
• 52nd Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue
• Rockefeller Plaza between 48th Street and 51st Street

Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images