<P> The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a large Christmas tree placed annually in Rockefeller Center , in Midtown Manhattan . The tree is erected in mid November and lit in a public ceremony in late November or early December . Since 1997 , the lighting has been broadcast live , to hundreds of millions , on NBC 's Christmas in Rockefeller Center telecast on a Wednesday after Thanksgiving . The tree lighting ceremony is aired at the end of every broadcast , following live entertainment and the tree is lit by the current Mayor of New York City and special guests . An estimated 125 million people visit the attraction each year . </P>
when do they put the rockefeller tree up
late November or early December