The annual WRAL Tower Lighting is scheduled for Nov. 29, 2023. Tune in to WRAL-TV at 7 p.m. to for a live, half-hour special of music and holiday cheer as we count down to when towers in Raleigh, Durham and Rocky Mount get their holiday glow.
WRAL will welcome special musical guests the 82nd Airborne Division All-American Chorus to ring in the holiday season.
WRAL-TV Tower
The annual WRAL Tower Lighting is scheduled for Nov. 29, 2023, at the Western Boulevard studio in Raleigh.
Tune in to WRAL-TV at 7 p.m. to for a live, half-hour special of music and holiday cheer across central North Carolina, with towers lit in Raleigh, Durham and Rocky Mount.
This year marks the 65th annual lighting of the WRAL-TV tower in Raleigh, an annual tradition that has grown to include celebrations with towers at American Tobacco Campus in Durham and Rocky Mount Mills.
American Tobacco Lucky Strike Tower
WRAL Tower Lighting Special
Debra Morgan and Gerald Owens will host the WRAL Tower Lighting Special, live on TV and everywhere you stream WRAL on Nov. 29 at 7 p.m.
The 82nd Airborne Division All-American Chorus will entertain in Raleigh; Screamin’ Bridge Bluegrass Band will perform in Rocky Mount; and Lucas Middle School chorus will be among the performers in Durham.
Rocky Mount Mills Tower
WRAL’s holiday tower lighting: A beloved 65-year tradition
The tower lighting tradition began in 1959, with Capitol Broadcasting 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.
In 2017, WRAL anchor Bill Leslie debuted a Christmas original composition.
Celebrations from seasons past
Thanks to WRAL-TV’s Mark Bergin for this CapCom story.
