The holidays got a little brighter Wednesday night with the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

Mayor Bill de Blasio flipped the switch Wednesday night to light the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree following a televised extravaganza that featured performances by Diana Ross and Tony Bennett.

The 72-foot-tall tree is decorated with 5 miles (8 kilometers) of multicolored LED lights and a 900-pound Swarovski crystal star. Rockefeller Center has hosted the ceremony since 1931.

The 75-year-old tree was donated by a couple in Wallkill, 60 miles north of the city.

It will remain on display until Jan. 7. Then it will be given to Habitat for Humanity to help build homes.

 

 

 
Police officers were plentiful, and spectators were funneled through security.

"It's a shared responsibility. If they see an unattended bag or package, if it doesn't seem right to you, call the police right away. There's going to be cops everywhere tomorrow night and we can quickly have the bomb squad respond and identify and mitigate whatever it is," said NYPD Chief of Counterterrorism James Waters.