The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was set aglow with 30,000 colored lights at a ceremony Wednesday night featuring Mayor Michael Bloomberg, singer Lionel Richie and NBC's "30 Rock'' stars Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey.
Co-star Tracy Morgan, arrested earlier this week on drunken driving charges, was supposed to appear with his castmates but didn't show up. He appeared earlier in a prerecorded skit.
With temperatures in the high 50s, thousands of people packed the midtown Manhattan plaza for the festivities, which were hosted by the "Today'' show's Al Roker and Ann Curry.
Singers Martina McBride, John Legend, Christina Aguilera, Sting and Bette Midler were among those who performed during the two-hour event, "Christmas in Rockefeller Center,'' part of which was televised nationally on NBC.
Christmas tree admirers came from as far away as Florida, California, Germany and Norway.
"It's just beautiful,'' Mary Shott said about the 88-foot Norway spruce from Ridgefield, Conn., about 60 miles north of New York.
She and her 18-year-old daughter, Sarah Shott, traveled from Tresckow, Pa., by bus to watch the ceremony for the first time.
"It's just such an experience being here with everyone,'' the daughter said.
The two had a sweet spot, very close to the tree. They had been waiting for nearly five hours to see it lit.
Near them, Alexandria Castro, 20, of Bridgeport, Conn., said she had been at Rockefeller Center since morning.
"You've got to be spontaneous,'' Castro said. "Although next time I will be sitting in my PJs watching this on TV.''
The 9-ton tree, which came from the property of Rob Kinnaird, is topped with a Swarovski crystal star. The tree will remain in place until Jan. 8.
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