Macy's swaps real Great Tree for reusable version

ATLANTA — The timeless holiday tradition of the Macy’s Great Tree lighting will begin this season with a brand new tradition. Instead of the live tree, Macy’s will take the approach of lighting a more ecologically-friendly reusable tree manufactured by Christmas Lights, Etc.

According to Macy’s president and regional director of stores, Michael Krauter, “Macy’s made the decision to adopt for our display a locally made tree that can return year-after-year. “

Krauter says that bringing the new tree into his tradition will stay “consistent with [our] company’s commitment to sustainable business practices, which also include using less energy and less paper, recycling more, and using more paper products made from recycled and certified pulp.”

The Great Tree stands 56 feet tall and features 45,000 white and multi-color sparkling LED twinkle lights, along with eight miles of light strings draped around the tree.

Whereas the lighting of Macy’s Great Tree will still take place at Macy’s at Lenox Square Mall, the tree will relocate to the North Macy’s parking lot rather than on its traditional Lenox Square Mall rooftop.

The lighting of the Great Tree will take place from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving night, Nov. 28, and will be on display from Nov. 28 through Jan. 1.

A pre-show concert featuring country music star Brett Eldredge, actress and Broadway star Megan Hilty, NBC’s “The Voice” finalist Judith Hill, Macy’s Great Tree Children’s Choir, and Macy’s Magical Stars will begin at 5:15 p.m. before the lighting.

Watch Channel 2 Action News at 6 p.m. on Nov. 28 for the lighting of Macy’s Great Tree, hosted by Channel 2’s Jovita Moore and Severe Weather Team 2 meteorologist David Chandley.

WSBTV