ATLANTA,None — Channel 2 WSB-TV brings the lighting of Atlanta's most recognized Christmas tree to homes all over North Georgia. For more than six decades, generations of Atlantans have welcomed the holiday season with the lighting of the Macy's Great Tree.
Channel 2's Monica Pearson and David Chandley host the live broadcast from Lenox Square Mall on Thanksgiving night.
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Pre-show entertainment begins at 6:15 p.m., hosted by Kicks 101.5 FM's Cadillac Jack. The pre-show will feature behind the scenes interviews and exciting performances by the evening's entertainers.
The live broadcast begins at 7 p.m. with musical performances by American Idol season five runner-up Katharine McPhee; fan favorite country singer and songwriter Chuck Wicks; platinum selling R&B artist Bobby V and Atlanta native Austin Renfroe.
The holiday celebration will be capped off with a fantastic fireworks finale set to holiday music and the lighting of a 62-foot white pine filled with over 4,000 lights.
Join Channel 2 WSB-TV for this exciting and memorable way to kick off the holiday season!
The Great Tree
The biggest star of the night will be the Great Tree itself! According to tradition, the best great trees are solitary white pines -- an independent white pine that grows straighter and fuller than ones surrounded by other vegetation. This year's towering beauty will have a décor package consisting of 125 red Macy's stars and 125 snowflakes complimented with the traditional metallic balls and illuminated spheres.
Depending on the weather, it takes a crew of eight people working for 2-3 weeks to decorate the Great Tree. Decorations include: 1,200 multi-color metallic basketball-sized ornaments, 50 flashing strobe lights, 400 internally lit ornaments, 4,000 11-watt bulbs all topped off with a spectacular internally lit LED color-changing Macy's star. At the centerpiece of the stellar topper – is a star with a ring of 50 crystal faceted star strobes encircling the star.
Macy's Great Tree Lighting, an Atlanta tradition since 1948, began as a holiday gift from Rich's to the people of Atlanta. Since that time, the event continues to be a Thanksgiving Day tradition for thousands of Georgia's families. Over the years, the holiday event has captured the cover of TIME Magazine, has been included in national television specials like HGTV's Christmas Across America, and has received international exposure on CNN. Millions of viewers across the United States have enjoyed this Atlanta holiday tradition as a result of its national syndication.
WSBTV
