Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Illuminated in Star-Studded Ceremony

The annual holiday tradition proceeded without disruption despite concerns of potential protests.

The iconic Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center was lit by more than 50,000 multicolored lights on Wednesday night, marking the start of the holiday season.
The tree, a 12 ton, 80-foot-tall Norway spruce from upstate New York, was topped with a 900-pound star covered in 3 million crystals.
The lighting ceremony featured performances by Barry Manilow, Kelly Clarkson, and Carly Pearce, among others.
The tree will remain lit from 5 a.m. to midnight every day until Jan. 13, and will be lit for 24 hours on Christmas day.
Despite concerns of potential protests related to the Israel-Hamas war, the event proceeded without disruption.