Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lit Up For the Holidays, With Virus Rules for Crowds

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Rockin' around the Christmas tree looks different for visitors at Rockefeller Center this year, starting with Wednesday's tree lighting ceremony.

What's normally a chaotic, crowded tourist hotspot during the holiday season was instead a mask-mandated, time-limited, socially distanced locale due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The tree, a 75-foot Norway spruce, had its holiday lights turned on in an event that was broadcast on television but closed to the public. The telecast used pre-recorded performances from entertainers like Kelly Clarkson and Dolly Parton, and camera shots of the streets around the tree showed them to be largely empty.

The tree is decorated with 50,000 multi-colored LED lights, and atop the tree sits a 900-pound Swarovski star, covered in three millions crystals.

In the days following the lighting until the early part of January, those wishing to take a look at the tree will have to follow a host of rules.

The plaza where the tree is physically located will be closed to the public; instead, there will be specific tree-viewing zones on the midtown Manhattan blocks on either side. Similar to last year, the area around Rockefeller Plaza will be blocked off. West 49th and West 50th Streets will be closed off to vehicular traffic

Visitors will have to scan a QR code to reserve a spot in a virtual line, and can get text messages to let them know when it's their turn. At that point, they will be directed to specific pods, each of which can hold four people, to look at the tree. There will be a five-minute limit to tree-viewing.

No crowds will be on hand this year to see NYC's most famous Christmas tree get lit up, but there are still plenty of preparations to be made ahead of the annual event. NBC New York's Adam Kuperstein, Marc Santia and Janice Huff provide team coverage.

Of course, everyone will have to be wearing masks and maintain social distance, with proper spacing markers laid out around the plaza. Entrance to the skating rink and retail will be separate.

The restricted approach is a necessary one, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said earlier this week. “It will be limited, the number of people that can get close. This is what we got to do to protect everyone."

Workers at Rockefeller Center first put up a tree in 1931. It became an annual tradition starting in 1933. This year's tree came from Oneonta, in central New York.

Copyright The Associated Press
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