Tonight, New York City kicks off the holiday season with the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting, a beloved tradition since 1931. This year’s tree, a 74-foot Norway Spruce from West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, marks the first tree from this area since 1959. Weighing 11 tons and adorned with over 50,000 lights, it will top off with a 900-pound Swarovski star.

The lighting ceremony, hosted by Kelly Clarkson, starts at 8 p.m. It features live performances from the Backstreet Boys, Dan + Shay, Megan Hilty, Jennifer Hudson, Coco Jones, Little Big Town, RAYE, and Thalia. The Radio City Rockettes will also perform. The tree’s official illumination is set for around 10 p.m.

Spectators can begin gathering at 4 p.m. along Sixth Avenue, entering at 48th Street or 51st Street. The event is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. For those unable to attend in person, NBC and Peacock will broadcast the ceremony from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET.

If you plan to attend, prepare for cold weather. AccuWeather predicts temperatures around 40 degrees at 8 p.m., with wind chills making it feel closer to 30 degrees. Expect cloudy skies and gusty winds up to 15 mph.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will shine daily from 5 a.m. to midnight through mid-January. On Christmas Eve, it will remain lit for 24 hours. On New Year’s Eve, it will stay lit until 9 p.m.

The tree stands at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, between West 49th and 50th Streets in Manhattan. Visitors can take the B, D, F, or M subway lines to the 47th-50th Streets-Rockefeller Center stop.

Several streets around Rockefeller Center will close to accommodate the crowds, including parts of 46th through 52nd Streets between 5th and 6th Avenues. Expect significant traffic disruptions.