Rockefeller Center ready to ring in holiday season with annual Christmas tree lighting
NEW YORK -- The countdown is on for the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony Wednesday night at Rockefeller Center.
The switch will be flipped just before 10 p.m. to ring in the holiday season.
Those planning to come out in person should prepare for cold temperatures and massive crowds.
"It's excitement, it's festive, it just kind of really gets you in the mood for celebrating," one woman told CBS New York's Zinnia Maldonado.
"I've seen it before, it's been years ago, and it just puts you in the Christmas spirit, it's just so beautiful," said Jackie Hiers, of Atlanta, Georgia.
"Layers, lots of layers," one person said about staying warm.
"Maybe get a drink," another person added with a laugh.
- Tree Lighting Guide: Rockefeller Center's 2023 tree lighting happens today. Here's everything you need to know
With thousands expected to attend, the NYPD says it has an extensive safety plan in place.
On Wednesday afternoon, barricades were still arriving outside 30 Rockefeller Center. The tree lighting attracts thousands of people from around the world every year. But this year, extra precautions are being taken, some from different vantage points.
"We will not tolerate any hate crimes, any assaults, any broken property," NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said.
Pro-Palestinian group Within our Lifetime is calling for a "flood" of the tree lighting starting at 6 p.m., saying Wednesday night is about "mobilization, not celebration." Chell said the NYPD is prepared.
"Over 700 protests we've handled since Oct. 7, so we've been good at this. We have some extra layers tonight, to keep the protesters ... to allow them to speak their First Amendment," Chell said.
Added Rebecca Weiner, the department's deputy commissioner for intelligence and counterterrorism, "People come from all over the world to experience the magic of the tree lighting, so our goal and our job is to make sure they can do so."
That means road and street closures, and seemingly never-ending rows of barricades. But those attending Wednesday night said it all makes them feel safer.
"New York will take care of that. We just trust the police," said Telia Johnson of Birmingham, Alabama.
"We thought about it before, but we've seen a ton of police officers. So, hopefully, everything will be okay and we're checking up on it and looking into it, but, hopefully, it'll be good," Adeline Johnson added.
Others said safety is no concern whatsoever.
The NYPD continues to say there are no credible security threats to the event.
