Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree officially on display

New York, NEW YORK—The annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting ceremony concluded with the lighting of the tree at 9:00 pm Wed., Dec. 4. The 75-year-old tree from Shelton, Conn., was lit with five miles of 45,000 lights. Members from NBC’s The Today Show hosted the ceremony featuring performances by Leona Lewis, Kelley Clarkson, The Goo Goo Dolls, Mary J. Blige, Ariana Grande, Jewel, Lauren Alaina, the Rockettes, Mariah Carey and others. According to New York Daily News, some of the performances were pre-recorded.

The Ceremony also featured a brief appearance by Gabriela Isler, 2013’s Miss Universe, as well as a preview for NBC’s production of The Sound of Music, featuring Carrie Underwood, which premiered Thursday night.

A jumbotron next to Rockefeller center on Forty Ninth St. allowed the large overflow crowd, which was backed up to Sixth Ave., to see the show.

Some King’s students who attended did not appreciate the crowds.

Abby Ramey (17’) said she doesn’t plan on going again because she “had to wait in line for 7 hours to watch it on TV.”  After arriving, Dean Graham (’17) said he left because he “didn’t want to stand there for two hours.”

Fermin Villalpando (’17) said he enjoyed the ceremony but thought “it was a big and annoying mess to get out of the Plaza.” Villalpando said he “may or may not do it again next year."

Other King’s students had better luck including Joseph Holmes (’16). He was only able to see “a third” of the tree when it was lit, but he said it was “worth it.”  He took the long waiting time to socialize.  “I met some great girls who I had a great bonding experience with all trying to get to see the tree. And now they're my Facebook friends,” Holmes said.  He called it a “great start to the Christmas season.”

The tree will remain on display in Rockefeller Center until Jan. 7.