2024 WRAL Tower Lighting: WRAL lights towers in Raleigh, Durham and Rocky Mount
>> SAY THAT. YEAH.
>> WELCOME TO THE SIXTY-SIXTH
ANNUAL WRAL TOWER LIGHTING.
JOIN THE WRAL FAMILY WITH
SPECIAL GUESTS AND LIVE
ENTERTAINMENT FROM DURHAM,
ROCKY MOUNT. AND RIGHT HERE IN
RALEIGH, WE ARE THRILLED TO
CARRY ON A DECADES LONG
TRADITION OF CELEBRATION STARTS
NOW.
>> AND EVERYONE, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR THIS.
66 ANNUAL WRAL TOWER LIGHTING
SPECIAL. YOU KNOW, THIS IS A
NIGHT WE LOOK FORWARD TO ALL
YEAR LONG AND IT IS A PERFECT
NIGHT OUT HERE TONIGHT. HELLO,
EVERYONE. I'M DEBRA MORGAN AND
I'M GERALD OWENS. WE ARE
THRILLED ONCE AGAIN TO SHARE
THIS SEASONAL TRADITION WITH
ALL OF YOU AT HOME.
>> AND WE'RE EXCITED FOR THE
JAM PACKED HOLIDAY CELEBRATION
WE HAVE IN STORE. YEAH, RIGHT
HERE IN RALEIGH. WE HAVE A
TALENTED GROUP OF THE SINGER'S.
THEY ARE FROM TRITON HIGH
SCHOOL. THE SHOW STOPPERS.
THAT'S THEIR NAME. EVERYBODY
HERE HERE. AND YOU ARE GOING TO
LOVE THAT. WE WERE JUST HEARING
THEM AND FOR THE 5TH YEAR IN A
ROW, WE ARE TAKING THE
CELEBRATION BEYOND THE WESTERN
BOULEVARD CAMPUS AND SPLITTING
THE EXCITEMENT TO THE TOWER
LIGHTING SPECIALS AND DURHAM
AND ROCKY MOUNT. YEAH, WE HAVE
CELEBRATIONS IN CREWS AT THE
AMERICAN TOBACCO CAMPUS AND
DURHAM AND ROCKY MOUNT MILLS
IN ROCKY MOUNT. THERE IS A
LARGE CROWD AT THE BASE OF THE
LUCKY STRIKE TOWER IN DURHAM
WHERE THE CELEBRATION IS
ALREADY UNDERWAY. YEAH, THAT'S
WHERE WE FIND WRAL'S. DAN
HAGGERTY.
IT'S TAKEN IN THE SHOW AND
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE THERE
TO WATCH THE LIGHTING OF THE
AMERICAN TOBACCO CAMPUS TOWER
SAND TAKE IT AWAY.
>> AND THIS IS A BIG ONE.
>> 20 YEARS OF LIGHTING THE
TOWER HERE AT KATC. I HAVE SOME
SPECIAL COMPANY, MISTER AND
MISSUS. CLAUS WILL LEGAL.
THE DURHAM CHILDREN'S CHOIR
BEHIND ME
>> WELL, THAT'S NOT PAID OUR
OWN. SAY HELLO TO EVERYBODY
>> LET'S NOT WASTE ANY TIME.
I WANT TO BRING IN THE BIG GUY,
FULLY BULL. SANTA CLAUS.
LET'S HOW THIS THING DOWN LIGHT
UP THIS TOWER AND GET THE
SEASON KICKED OFF HIS EVERYBODY
READY.
>> SO
>> DOESN'T
>> GET MUCH BETTER THAN NOT.
NOW I GIVE YOU THE DURHAM
CHILDREN'S CHOIR. YOU GUYS
READY?
>> AND
>> ALL
>> RIGHT. THERE WE GO WAS SO
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AT
DURHAM, A TOWER. OF COURSE,
IT'S GORGEOUS AS IT ALWAYS
DOES. WHAT A GREAT JOB BY THE
DURHAM CHILDREN'S CHOIR.
WE'RE ALSO CELEBRATING TONIGHT
OVER IN ROCKY MOUNT. I CANNOT
BELIEVE THAT IT'S BEEN 20 YEARS
AND WE HAVE A NEW TRADITION,
BUT STILL JUST AS FUN DOES IS
BEAUTIFUL ABOUT FIRES A ROCKET
NOW. YEAH, WE HAVE WRAL'S
ASHLEY ROWE WHO WAS THERE TO
KICK THINGS OFF IN THOSE VISTA.
THAT IS BOTH A 70'S THERE.
ASHLEY.
>> GUYS, WE ARE HAVING SO MUCH
FUN. THERE ARE NOW HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE THAT ARE SURROUNDING THE
ALL THESE FOLKS ARE IN LINE
TO MEET SANTA CLAUS. ARE YOU
HAVING A GOOD TIME TONIGHT?
I HAD MY FRIEND, ROB. YOU KNOW,
I GOT TO BE A LAST YEAR AND
I'VE GOT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO
THIS CUTIE.
>> 12 WEEK-OLD AROUND ME.
IS THIS NOT THE SWEETEST SO
HUGE. WE'RE HAVING SO MUCH FUN
HERE. THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON
ARTS AND CRAFTS FOR THE KIDS.
THERE'S A HOLIDAY MARKET OVER
THAT SCOTT BEAUTIFUL VENDORS AS
WELL. AND OF COURSE, WE ARE NOW
JUST MINUTES AWAY FROM LIGHTING
THE WATER TOWER HERE. WE'RE
GONNA HAVE A LIVE PERFORMANCE
FOR YOU COMING UP IN JUST A
LITTLE BIT.
>> STARTING NEW TRADITIONS WITH
LITTLE PUPPIES. I LOVE THAT.
YEAH. JUST GET A FEW MINUTES
AWAY. NOW BEFORE WE LIGHT THE
TOWER THERE AT ROCKY MOUNT
MILLS. SO EXCITING. THAT'S WHY
WE'RE PLEASE WELCOME THE TRITON
HIGH SCHOOL. SO STOPPERS LED BY
ROY HARRIS.
>> HEY, TELL US A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THIS AS STOPPERS HIGH
WHERE THE TRITON HIGH SCHOOL
SHOWSTOPPERS FROM IRWIN, NORTH
CAROLINA. AND WE ARE SO EXCITED
TO BE HERE ON TONIGHT. WE ARE
SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU WHAT I'M
GOING TO START WITH.
>> WE'RE GOING TO START WITH
ALL RIGHT. REALLY IS EXCITED.
ALL RIGHT. COME ON. LET'S GO
HERE. WE LISTEN TO GET OUT OF
THE WAY.
>> BAD DANCING. YEAH. ARE THEY
GREAT? WE JUST ABSOLUTELY LOVE
THAT REALLY WARM. AND WE'RE
GONNA HEAR A LOT MORE FROM YOU
ALL THROUGHOUT THIS SHOW.
THIS IS THE 66TH ANNUAL TOWER
LIGHTING SPECIAL. IT'S SO
IMPORTANT TO US. OUR OWNERSHIP
AND OUR MANAGEMENT HERE AT
CAPITAL BROADCASTING.
>> TO KEEP THE TRADITION GOING
AS A GIFT TO THE COMMUNITY.
ABSOLUTELY. BOY, WE'VE BEEN
THROUGH A PART THAT SO MANY OF
THESE HAVEN'T WE BEEN HERE.
I KNOW THIS IS MY 32ND YEAR
22ND. I KNOW THAT'S A THAT'S
A LOT OF YEARS BETWEEN US THAT
IT IS A SORT OF A LET'S START
WITH A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON
FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN A
PART OF THIS BEFORE. THIS ALL
BEGAN IN THE 1950'S WHEN COUPLE
BROADCASTING FOUNDER AJ
FLETCHER WOULD READ A
CHRISTMAS, CAROL, TO VIEWERS
ON TELEVISION.
>> BEFORE THE 300 FOOT TV TOWER
WAS LIT. THE TRADITION HAS
EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS EACH
YEAR GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.
>> AND WE HAVE A CROWD HERE.
WE'VE KIND OF JUST STARTED A
NEW TRADITION NOW WITH BRIAN
STRAIGHTER. HE IS JOINING US
OUT HERE THEN ON THE MORNING
SHOW. ALL OF THOSE YEARS
O'BRIEN, WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE
YOU OUT HERE NOW AND TALK TO
THE CROWD AT. ARE THEY EXCITED
ABOUT THIS TRADITION AS WELL?
I THINK SO. ARE WE EXCITED
ABOUT THIS?
>> WHAT ARE WE ABOUT TO DO A A?
>> I WANT TO HEAR THAT. AND
THE ONE.
YEAH, I'VE WAITED ALL YEAR FOR
THE ALL AND HOW ARE YOU DOING
TONIGHT? OWN ANY IS HERE TO
SEE THE TOWER LIT TO KNOW ABOUT
YOU. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
FUNNIEST YEARS, POLIO, MY YOU
KNOW, WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE
TO CELEBRATE IT WITH US.
WE ARE HAVING A GREAT TIME OUT
HERE. WE'RE WAY DOWN SKY 5 TO
MAKE ITS WAY OVER FROM DURHAM
SO WE CAN GET A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW
THIS TOWER LIGHTING, AS YOU
MENTIONED, THAT THIS IS MY
FIRST TOWER LIGHTING. I'VE BEEN
ON THE AIR FOR 17 YEARS.
ALL OF THE REST BEEN ON THE
MORNING NEWS.
>> BUT I'VE GROWN UP HERE AND
THAT HAS BEEN A LANDMARK ON
WESTERN BOULEVARD MY ENTIRE
LIFE. WE'RE GLAD YOU COULD JOIN
US, BRIAN. AND THERE IS MUCH
MORE TO COME ON THIS 66 ANNUAL
TOWER LIGHTING SPECIAL SO
SWEET. I LOVE HEARING THOSE
LITTLE ONES TALKING ABOUT HOW
EXCITED THEY ARE. WE ARE TOO.
>> THE TOWER IS LIT AND THE
CELEBRATION IS ALREADY
UNDERWAY. AND DURHAM RIGHT NOW,
COMING UP NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO
LIKE THE TOWER AT ROCKY MOUNT
MILLS AND WE'LL HAVE A LIVE
PERFORMANCE FROM OUR SPECIAL
GUEST, MEREDITH DAVIS. JOHNSON.
HELP MAKE THE HOLIDAYS WARMER
AND BRIGHTER FOR OUR NEIGHBORS
IN NEED. DURING WRAL'S COACH
RILEY TOLD RUN, THIS IS ANOTHER
TRADITION AND WE KNOW THAT SO
MANY OF YOU LOVE TO HELP US
HELP OUR FAMILIES IN NEED.
>> JUST SCAN THE QR CODE ON
YOUR SCREEN TO GIVE ANY AMOUNT
YOU CAN HELP. WRAL AND THE
SALVATION ARMY MAKE A POSITIVE
DIFFERENCE FOR LOCAL CHILDREN
IN NEED.
>> GIVING A LITTLE CAN HELP A
LOT. WE ALWAYS SAY THAT
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE THE
FAMILY OR 1000 PEOPLE.
>> WELCOME BACK TO THE
SIXTY-SIXTH ANNUAL WRAL TOWER
LIGHTING SPECIAL. RIGHT NOW
WE'RE GONNA FLIP THE SWITCH ON
ANOTHER OF OUR TOWERS. YEAH,
WE DIDN'T IRAN AND IT LOOKS
FANTASTIC. THE CROWD IS GOING
CRAZY THERE WITH ALL OF THE
FESTIVITIES HAPPENING THERE.
>> NOW WE'RE GOING TO SEND IT
OUT TO ROCK OUT BILLS. BACK
TO ASHLEY WITH ALL THE
EXCITEMENT HAPPENING THERE.
ASHLEY.
>> AND SOME PEOPLE HERE AT
ROCKY MOUNT MILLS. ARE YOU
HAVING A GOOD TIME TONIGHT?
I HAVE GREAT ENTERTAINMENT BY
THE AMAZING MEREDITH DAVIS.
JOHNSON.
>> FROM NASHVILLE, NORTH
CAROLINA, BY THE WAY, A LOCAL
GAL. YOU CAN FIND REFORM.
YOU CAN FIND EVERYTHING ON
FACEBOOK AND HER INSTAGRAM PAGE
IS WELL FOR HEARD NEXT UPCOMING
PERFORMANCE DATES. WHAT ARE
YOU REPORTING TONIGHT,
MEREDITH, A CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS
TIME TO GET A REFUND OR SO
MARYLAND BECAUSE I TAKE IT
AWAY.
>> WE
>> NEED
>> WE
>> THE MOVE INTO THE
>> ALL RIGHT. THAT'S A GREAT WE
AND THE U.S. HAS WE ARE GONNA
GO BACK TO THAT BECAUSE THEY
ARE GOING TO LIGHT UP THE TOWER
AT ROCKY MOUNT. WE ESTABLISH
THAT CONNECTION THERE
>> WE
>> ANOTHER.
ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR
MEREDITH. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL
SONG. AND WE ARE, BROOKE, WE
ARE BRINGING OUT THE MAYOR AND
HIS 2 BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS.
WE'VE GOT MACY AND CLAY ARE
HERE TO HELP US LIKE THE TOWER.
AND TONIGHT. SO I THINK THAT
ONCE WE'RE GOING TO COUNT DOWN
FROM 10 AND WHAT DO WE SAY ONE
ONCE YOU HIT THAT READ BEEN
OKAY.
>> ALL RIGHT. CAN WE HELP MACY
AND CLEAR OUT TONIGHT?
EVERYBODY LETS GET STARTED.
>> CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE
TONIGHT ON THE MOUND. MILLS.
>> AND SO BEAUTIFUL THERE ON
THE ROCKY CAMPUS. I HEAR SKY
5 ABOUT A YEAR TO A CLOSE AND
SEE OUR WINDS AND CELEBRATION
THERE. WE'VE GOT MORE AHEAD.
YES, SO WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE
ENTERTAINMENT SPREAD OUT ACROSS
OUR AREA TONIGHT, PERFORMERS OF
ALL AGES ARE GETTING US INTO
THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT. LET'S TURN
IT BACK OVER TO THE TRITON HIGH
SCHOOL SHOWSTOPPERS.
WAY.
>> THAT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
IS THE TRITON HIGH SCHOOL SHOW
STOPPER. WELL, I'M GOING TO
GO GUYS. WE'RE GOING TO HEAR
FROM YOU AGAIN IN JUST A FEW
OURS IS SO AWESOME. I LOVE HOW
THEY PUT THEIR OWN SPIN ON
THESE CLASSICS. IT'S SO MUCH
FUN NOW.
>> IF YOU LOVE THE HOLIDAYS,
YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS A BIG
NIGHT FOR NBC AS WELL. WHEN WE
WRAP UP HERE ON WRAL STATE WHO
DO NOT CHANGE THE CHANNEL
BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
CHRISTMAS AND ROCKEFELLER
CENTER. THIS IS A LIVE LOOK
RIGHT NOW. AN NBC SPECIAL HAS
ONE OF NEW YORK CITY'S LARGEST
TREES IS LIT UP FOR THE
HOLIDAYS. IT AIRS RIGHT AFTER
TONIGHT'S TOWER LIGHTING
SPECIAL SAID DO NOT GO AWAY.
AND LET'S TAKE A LIVE LOOK AT
OUR 3 TOWERS RIGHT NOW.
>> 2 OF THE 3 ARE READY FOR
THE HOLIDAYS. AND IN JUST A FEW
MINUTES, WE WILL LIKE THE ONE
RIGHT HERE AT WRAL IN RALEIGH,
BRIAN.
>> READY TO LIGHT THE TOWER.
WE ARE MINUTES AWAY. JOIN US
FOR THAT LIVE COUNTDOWN RIGHT
AFTER THIS.
THEIR WAY TO GO THAT WAY.
>> BACK NOW ON WRAL 66TH ANNUAL
TOWER LIGHTING SPECIAL. HERE'S
A LIVE LOOK FROM SKY 5 OVER THE
TV STATION HERE ON WESTERN
BOULEVARD. THIS IS THE COOLEST
VANTAGE POINT TO SEE THIS TOWER
LIGHTING ALL LOOKING DARK.
IT IS RIGHT NOW. BUT IN JUST
A MINUTE OR SO, WE ARE GOING TO
LIKE THAT HOUR.
>> IT IS GOING TO BE LIKE A
BEACON ON WESTERN BOULEVARD
FOR EVERYONE IN RALEIGH TO SEE
FOR MILES AROUND. WE ARE SO
EXCITED. WILL WE GET TO BRING
THIS TO THE COMMUNITY EVERY
YEAR? IT IS SUCH A GOOD TIME
AND IT'S GONNA STAY LIT UNTIL
CHRISTMAS EVE OR NEW YEAR'S
EVE. SO
>> IF YOU DON'T GET THE SAME
NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, YOU HAVE
PLENTY OF TIME TO DRIVE BY HERE
AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT. BOY, DO
WE FEEL LIKE KIDS ON CHRISTMAS
LIKE ANTICIPATION LIKE IT
DOESN'T GET ALL WE'VE BEEN
DOING THIS FOR 66 YEARS AND IT
NEVER GETS A MOMENT THERE.
I FEEL LIKE IT. BUT THIS IS
SUCH A SPECIAL EVENT. LOOK AT
ALL THE KIDS.
>> AND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST LOVE
HOW PEOPLE BRING THEIR FAMILIES
AND MAKE THIS A PART OF THEIR
TRADITIONS WHO IT IS. EACH
YEAR. WE SEE MORE AND MORE
PEOPLE HERE.
>> ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THESE
OF THESE CAMERA AND THE PEOPLE
YOU SEE THE CROWD YEAH, IS THE
SAME. WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL
OF YOU ALL TAKING PART IN THIS
WONDERFUL TRADITION OF OURS.
LIKE ARE YOU CALLED YET
NOWHERE? YEAH, I KNOW IT'S
ACTUALLY A PERFECT NIGHT TO BE
OUT HERE FOR SAY IT IS JUST
CHILLY ENOUGH. IT FEELS LIKE
CHRISTMAS TIMES. WE'VE MOST
WEDDING. BUT THIS YEAR IT IS
ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. MOST WENT
HERE. ALL RIGHT. DO THEY WERE
READY? I DON'T KNOW. I'M PRETTY
EXCITED ABOUT THIS. ARE YEAH.
AND IT WAS PERFECT.
ONCE AGAIN, THE TRITON HIGH
SCHOOL SHOWSTOPPERS.
AMAZING JOB. THANK YOU TO THE
TRITON HIGH SCHOOL OR ARE JUST
GREAT, GREAT GUY. HE DID SO
AMAZING. I LOVE THEM.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US TONIGHT. THANKS AS
WELL TO ALL OF OUR CO-HOST AT
ALL THE PEOPLE WHO JOINED US IN
ROCKY MOUNT AND DURHAM. WE HOPE
ALL OF YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL
HOLIDAY SEASON. ENJOY THE
TOWER. IF YOU'RE IN THE AREA
THAT WILL SHINE THROUGH NEW
YEAR'S EVE. AND A REMINDER TO
RIGHT HERE ON WRAL FOR NBC'S
CHRISTMAS AT ROCKEFELLER
CENTER, KELLY CLARKSON IS THE
HOST. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.