Rockefeller Center tree lighting ceremony tonight on NBC 8 pm ET

The world famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree gets lit tonight in a star-studded televised event on NBC. Hosted by Today Show's Al Roker and Natalie Morales, the one hour special beginning at 8 pm ET will feature Mariah Carey, Susan Boyle, Sheryl Crow, Josh Groban, Kylie Minogue, Jessica SImpson, Annie Lennox, Charice, America's Got Talent's Jackie Evancho and many more. Unlike last year, I can't attend this year's ceremony in person (what a bummer!) so I'll be sitting in front of the TV with my tub of popcorn. Below is a short video story we did when the tree was lit last year:

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree for 2010 arrives in NYC

The 2010 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree arrived this morning at Rockefeller Plaza! (at right, workers begin the enormous task of securing and decorating the tree)

Here are some fun tree facts:

• 74 feet high and 40 feet wide

• Weighs 12 tons

• 30,000 LED lights

• 25,000 crystals

• 1 million ornaments

• Donated by the Acton family in Mahopac, New York. Peter Acton is a NYC firefighter and has said in interviews that this is not his tree, it's the people's tree. Aw... Peter, and wife Stefanie, along with son Seamus, age 11, and daughter Fiona, age 7, got a limousine ride into the city to help with the arrival.

• 78th annual tree lighting ceremony will be held on Tuesday, November 30. (Click here to watch last year's tree-lighting ceremony)

NYC outdoor skating rinks open for the season

There's nothing quite like skating outdoors! Rockefeller Rink (photo above) was the first Manhattan outdoor rink to open -- October 8 -- and will be the last rink to close for the 2010-2011 season. Below are the four must-skate rinks if you're in New York City:

• Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center (Fifth Avenue between 49th and 50th Street)
  October 8, 2010 - April 2011
  2010 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree arrives: Friday, November 12, 2010 (This year's 74 foot tree comes from Mahopac, NY.)
  Tree lighting ceremony: Tuesday, November 30, 2010 (Click here to watch last year's tree-lighting ceremony)

• Citi Pond at Bryant Park (Sixth Avenue and 42nd Street)
October 29, 2010 - February 27, 2011

• Wollman Rink at Central Park (entrance on Sixth Avenue and 59th Street)
October 23, 2010 - end of March/beginning of April 2011

• Lasker Rink at Central Park (entrance on 110th Street and Lenox Avenue)
  October 30 - end of March

Note: Wollman Rink at Prospect Park in Brooklyn will not be open for the 2010-2011 season as they continue construction of Lakeside, a year-round recreation center.

Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony lights up NYC

Here's our videostory of the 77th annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. The event was held on December 2 and featured Jane Krakowski ("30 Rock") and Zachary Levi ("Chuck") as co-hosts, Aretha Franklin, Michael Bublé, Jose Feliciano, Rod Stewart, Alicia Keys, Rod Stewart, Jo Dee Messina, Shakira, Rob Thomas and.....the Muppets! The middle of the skating rink was used as center stage (so that explains why there were no skaters this year) and the rink was covered with white carpet so the audience could walk over to watch the performers. Hope we've given you some behind-the-scenes insight into what really happens before the big countdown to the tree lighting. The tree comes down on January 7 so get your viewing in before then! Enjoy and happy holidays to all the skaters and skating fans out there!

Rockefeller Center tree lighting ceremony 2009: Photo gallery

The 2009 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree was lit on Wednesday, December 2 and I got an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the rehearsals and all the hard work that starts at the crack of dawn! For the first time, the entire skating rink was used to accommodate the performers and audience. Aretha Franklin, Michael Bublé and Jose Feliciano entertained the crowd at the rink, while other areas of the complex were used by Barry Manilow, Alicia Keys, Jo Dee Messina, Rod Stewart, Rob Thomas and Shakira. Co-hosts Jane Krakowski ("30 Rock") and Zachary Levi ("Chuck") went around all the venues to introduce the performers before the big moment when all the stars were joined by NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Jerry Speyer of Tishman-Speyer (which owns Rockefeller Center) to light the tree. Enjoy the photo gallery everyone and my video of the event is coming up!

(Photos below: Michael Bublé rehearses with his band during the day in preparation for evening performance at 2009 Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Ceremony; NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Michael Bublé, Jane Krakowski and Jerry Speyer after tree lighting)