Rockefeller Center Lights The Iconic Christmas Tree

Last night, Rockefeller Center rang in the holiday season with the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony. The Christmas Tree, traditionally a Norway Spruce is decorated with 5 miles (8 kilometers) of environmentally friendly LED lights (30,000). The tree is crowned by a large Swarovski crystal star. Prior to the lighting, several artists participated in live or pre-taped performances including Justin Bieber, Tony Bennett, Neil Diamond, Cee Lo Gree and Carol King, among others. Rockefeller Plaza is located between West 48th and West 51st Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues in midtown Manhattan.

Christmas Trees in Manhattan

Christmas Tree at The Plaza

Bloomberg Tower Christmas Tree at 59th Street Between Lexington and Third Avenue

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree's Swarovski Star

Annual Angel Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Crèche at the
Metropolitan Museum of Art

New York Stock Exchange Christmas Tree at Wall Street

Christmas Tree at South Street Seaport

Christmas Tree at Washington Square Park

These are some of the most photographed Christmas Trees in Manhattan. Although the Tree at Rockefeller Center is probably the most popular, the Angel Tree at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Christmas Tree at the Bloomberg Tower are both beautiful and worth visiting.

The Swarovski Star At Rockefeller Center Plaza

The Swarovski Star and the kiosk at Rockefeller Center Plaza

The Swarovski Star and the Christmas Tree (left) still surrounded by scaffolding 

One of the Swarovski ornaments being sold at the holiday kiosk near the Star replica 

Swarovski unveiled the 9.5-foot crystal star that will adorn the 2010 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree last Thursday, November 18. The star has been hoisted on top of the Christmas Tree which will be lit on November 30. Pictured above is an exact replica of the the star that is on display at Rockefeller Center Plaza near the Christmas Tree. According to the Epoch Times, the star's 12 rays are outfitted with 720 LED bulbs on 3,000 feet of wire to create a dazzling, twinkling effect through customized light sequencing programmed by a complex computer system. The star weighs a total of 550 pounds, 300 of which are comprised of the 25,000 crystals that provide the star with great luminosity.