December 02, 2009
Tree lighting ushers in tourist season in NYC
The Associated PressThe 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.