More Highlights for WRAL Tower Lighting

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  WRAL to light towers in Raleigh, Durham and Rocky Mount on Nov. 29

  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 […]
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  Making the Season Merry, Festive and Safe: Behind the Scenes of the WRAL Tower Lighting Special

  “Producing the WRAL Tower Lighting is my favorite assignment every year. Every year, it’s amazing how many people from various departments come together for this project.” – WRAL-TV News Producer Kelly Riner WRAL-TV supersized the tower lighting for 2020, combining the lighting celebrations from American Tobacco’s Lucky Strike Tower, the Rocky Mount Mills Water Tower […]
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  WRAL-TV Tower Now Aglow for Holidays

  WRAL-TV’s tower became a beacon for the holidays as is annual tradition on Thursday, December 1, 2016.  The first day of December always marks the WRAL Tower Lighting.  WRAL-TV Anchors Debra Morgan & David Crabtree hosted the event alongside WRAL-TV Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel during the newcasts between 5:00-6:30pm.  The 58th Annual Tower Lighting did […]
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  Light Up That Tower!

  Today, December 1, we celebrate the annual WRAL tower lighting for Christmas. During the evening newscast, that giant metal structure behind the building will be transformed into a dazzling tower of power Christmas tree. Over the years, elements of entertainment have been added to create a jolly mood for the viewers. Intermixed throughout the evening […]
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  1981 Tower Lighting for Christmas and a look back by Charlie Gaddy

  The annual lighting of the tower for Christmas happens on December 1. It is a special time of the year when WRAL spreads Christmas cheer by providing a visual Christmas greeting to the viewers by lighting the tower with more than 3,000 multi-color bulbs. The result is a spectacular Christmas tree. The tradition started in 1959.

  This particular tower lighting on December 1, 1981 was extra special. For the first time, WRAL was able to give viewers a bird’s eye viewer LIVE via SKY 5 – WRAL’s news helicopter – during the ceremony. WRAL News anchor, Charlie Gaddy, shares his memory watching the magnificent images that SKY 5 provided that evening.

  Flying SKY 5 was pilot Randy Watkins.