Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree turns on, with virus rules

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree turns on, with virus rules

IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR TISHMAN SPEYER - The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree stands lit, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, in New York. The 75-foot tall Norway spruce is covered with more than 50,000 multi-colored, energy-efficient LED lights.The lit tree will be on display starting Thursday, December 3, through early January 2021 and will also will be livestreamed each day from 8 am to midnight at rockefellercenter.com.  (Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer)

NEW YORK (AP) — Rockin’ around the Christmas tree looks different for visitors at Rockefeller Center this year, starting with Wednesday’s tree lighting ceremony. What’s normally a chaotic, crowded tourist hotspot during the holiday season was instead a mask-mandated, time-limited, socially distanced locale due to the coronavirus pandemic. The tree had its holiday lights turned on in an event that was broadcast on television but closed to the public. In the days following the lighting until the early part of January, those wishing to take a look at the tree will have to follow a host of rules.

Photo: (Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer)