The 74-foot tall Norway spruce decorated in glittering holiday ornaments was ceremoniously lit on Tuesday evening at Rockefeller Center at about 9 p.m. The event featured celebrity performances by Sheryl Crow, Josh Groban, and Jessica Simpson. NYPD increased security at the event after the attempted bombing of a tree-lighting ceremony in Oregon last Friday. The tree will be lit throughout the holiday season from 5:30 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. daily. On Christmas Day the tree is illuminated for 24 hours, on New Year's Eve the lights are turned off at 9 p.m.
