Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting 2018: How To Watch, Performers

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — The annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is the largest holiday season spectacle in New York City. The event draws a capacity crowd of 20,000 people to Midtown Manhattan each year and millions more watch from home.

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.

Getting to Rockefeller Center:

Tens of thousands of brave souls will head to Rockefeller Center on Wednesday to see the tree lighting in person. Due to the expected crowds, the NYPD recommends that anyone who's attending the tree lighting should take public transit.

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The closest subway stop to the Midtown destination is the 47-50th Streets-Rockefeller Center station on the B/D/F/M lines. Other alternatives include the 49th Street station on the N/R/W lines, the 5th Ave/53rd Street station on the E line and Grand Central Terminal on the 4/5/6/7 lines and the Metro-North Railroad.

Spectators should plan to get to Rockefeller Center in the afternoon due to the anticipated crowds. Police will begin shutting down traffic near Rockefeller center around 3 p.m. to begin letting people into the event.

Security:

Anybody attending the tree lighting ceremony will be required to enter Rockefeller Center using NYPD checkpoints at 48th, 49th and 50th Streets at both 5th Avenue and Avenue of the Americas, NYPD officials said.

Each spectator will have their bags checked and receive a pat down, officials said. Umbrellas, large coolers, alcoholic beverages, backpacks and large bags are not allowed inside Rockefeller Center.

Street closures:

The NYPD will close down a number of streets in the area near Rockefeller Center beginning at 3 p.m. on Wednesday. The following streets will remain closed until the event ends at 11:30 p.m., police said:

• 48th, 49th, 50th, and 51st Streets between Avenue of the Americas and Madison Avenue,
• 47th Street between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue
• 52nd Street between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue.
• 48th to 51st Street between Avenue of the Americas and Madison Avenue
• 47th Street between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue
• 52nd Street between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue

The two streets connected to Rockefeller Center — 49th and 50th streets between Madison Avenue and Avenue of the Americas — will be closed until the tree is removed on Jan. 7, police said.

Broadcast and performers:

NBC once again has national rights to broadcast the Rockefeller Center tree lighting. The broadcast will be hosted by NBC "TODAY" anchors, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and Craig Melvin, according to the network.

The show begins around 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and will feature a number of performances. Performers include Diana Ross, Tony Bennett and Diana Krall, Brett Eldredge, Darci Lynne Farmer, John Legend, Martina McBride, Pentatonix, Kellie Pickler and, as always, the Rockettes, according to NBC.

This year's tree:

The 72-foot-tall Norway Spruce standing at Rockefeller Center is from Walkill, New York and will be decked out with 50,000 multi-color LED lights and a brand-new Swarovski crystal star.

It took two days to transport the giant conifer to New York City on the back of a big-rig truck. The Orange County town of Walkill is located just 70 miles away from the city, but transporting a giant tree is an undertaking that takes much time and precaution.

The tree will remain on display until Jan. 7, after which it will be donated to Habitat for Humanity, Rockefeller Center announced.

Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images Entertainment