Lighting of the Rockefeller Xmas Tree

[tagiunagi]

Posted: 11/28/06 at 12:35pm

Has anyone been to this before? What time do you suggest getting there for a good spot? Ms Megan Mullally is set to be the host!

[Anakela]

Posted: 11/28/06 at 2:08pm

I've never done it myself, but from what I've always heard about it usually by 3/4pm the place is so packed that there are no more people allowed in to the Rock Center area, cops block it off and such. And the tree itself gets lit at (9pm?), so it's a bit of a wait. Good luck if you do go!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/28/06 at 2:33pm

If you plan to see anything, you need to go very early, like around 11 am. You can stand in the crowd and hear the music, but you need to be upfront to actually see.

[tagiunagi]

Posted: 11/28/06 at 2:47pm

11am??? But I have a life! Oh, God! I want to see my Megan in the flesh!

Thanks for the advice, folks.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/28/06 at 7:46pm

One year, they should put some tinsel & garland on the tree to jazz it up

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 11/28/06 at 7:47pm

Roxy, that was funny.

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 11/28/06 at 7:48pm

i thought they already lit it and unicef did it...

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/28/06 at 7:58pm

Someone needs to sneak in & hang a BWW ornament on it

[MotorTink]

Posted: 11/28/06 at 8:04pm

a few years ago and they had Jessica Simpson & Nick Lachey hosting. They also had them sing a song. It was about 10 degrees outside. When they spoke, you saw their breath. However, miraculously when Jessica was "belting her lungs out" you saw no breath. We were decorating the tree at the time and laughing so hard. I understand lip-synching and all, but she looked ridiculous.

[tagiunagi]

Posted: 11/28/06 at 8:10pm

The earliest I can get to the tree is at 4:30.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 12:25am

I'm working about a block from the tree right now so I see it often.

I avoid the crowd for the tree-lighting and see it another time, but you might like the ceremony.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 12:31am

Edit: Nevermind, it's tomorrow! Updated On: 11/29/06 at 12:31 AM

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 1:16am

My friend went down there tonight. (She thought the lighting was tonight.) Enya was lipsyncing some song. I think they make everyone lipsync at the tree lighting.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 3:48am

Lip-synching at the tree lighting must be a new thing. Anyone remember in 2000 (I think) when Britney Spears warbled "Silent Night" at the ceremony? She DEFINITELY sang live; her voice was so shaky and she cracked quite a few times during the performance. You can find it easily on the unmentionable site.

[mattnyc2]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 8:27am

Darnit, this is my first Christmas in New York and already I missed the thanksgiving parade because I was hungover and now I'm going to miss the tree lighting cause I have to work until 7. Oh well, someday I'll participate in a "New York" holiday activity (besides seeing The Grinch).

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 9:43am

The festivities start at 7:00, but the tree doesn't actually get lit until much closer to 9:00. You can still go over there, but you wouldn't get very close.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 9:48am

I thought Britney sounded adorable.

But yeah, I'm surprised they don't always lip-sync that, considering the technical aspects of it all.

[Anakela]

Posted: 11/30/06 at 1:38am

tagiunagi- did you go to the lighting tonight? (did anyone else here go?) Wondering what it was like in 'real life.'