The WRAL-TV Tower will soon be aglow again for the holidays.
A Christmas tree 300 feet tall? No, it’s the WRAL-TV tower , alight for the Christmas season.
In 2017, the annual tower lighting tradition gets glowing on Dec. 1 in both Raleigh, at WRAL Studios, and in Durham’s American Tobacco Historic District. In each location, carols and Christmas stories precede the lighting of the tower.
In Raleigh, at the WRAL Studios on Western Boulevard, WRAL Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel promises snowflakes will fly as the tower sparkles into light at 6:15 p.m.
In Durham, the lighting of the Lucky Strike Tower includes a holiday concert featuring community choral groups, the Bulltown Strutters and a special performance by the cast of “School of Rock.” The first 1,100 people to arrive will get a free light wand.
It all began in 1959, with Capitol Broadcasting Co. founder A.J. Fletcher reading “A Christmas Carol” to viewers before the tower was lit.
Over time, the original tradition was embellished with new ones, including musical performances, aerial video from Sky 5, manufactured snow to set the mood and streaming video to the Web and mobile phones.
- See images from tower lightings past HERE
Thanks to WRAL.com for this capcom story & photo.