NYC tree lighting ushers in tourist season
The Associated PressMayor Michael Bloomberg has lit the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, ushering in tourist season in one of New York's busiest holiday shopping districts.
Tens of thousands of people packed the streets around the giant tree Wednesday to catch performances by Aretha Franklin, Shakira, the Radio City Rockettes and others.
Rockefeller Center spokesman Keith Douglas says New York's most famous Christmas tree helps bring in 750,000 people to the center during the weeks the tree is lit. That's about 400,000 more people than visit on an average day the rest of the year.
This year's tree lighting ceremony looked a little different, though. The famed ice skating rink was covered with carpeting so onlookers could stand closer to the action.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
NEW YORK (AP) — The annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting is ushering in tourist season in the busy holiday shopping district in New York.
Rockefeller Center spokesman Keith Douglas says the city's most famous Christmas tree helps bring an extra 400,000 people to the center every day, for a total of 750,000 visitors each day during the holiday season.
The tree lighting is set for Wednesday night. This year, the production will not feature on-ice performances. The skating rink beneath the tree is covered with carpeting so audience members can stand in front of musical performers.
A union representing producers, writers and technicians had threatened to boycott the televised extravaganza but said Wednesday afternoon it had called off the protest.