WELCOME TO THE 62nd ANNUAL WRAL TOWER LIGHTING. TO JOIN THE FAMILY WITH SPECIAL GUESTS FROM ROCKY MOUNTAIN HILLS AND THE TOBACCO CAMPUS. AND A QUARTET AND SANTA AND MRS. CLAUSE LIVE AT OUR WRAL STUDIOS. AS WE COUNT DOWN TO THE BIG MOMENT, OUR CELEBRATION BEGINS NOW. >> IT IS TIME, GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR A VERY UNIQUE WRAL TOWER LIGHTING SPECIAL. I'M DEBORAH AND THIS IS DAVID. TONIGHT WE WANT YOU TO SIT BACK AND ENJOY GREAT ENTERTAINMENT AND HAVE FUN. >> THIS YEAR IT EXTENDS BEYOND US IN THIS BOULEVARD. WE WILL LIGHT THREE TOWERS. WRAL GERALD OWENS IS LIVE. AND WE ARE LIVE AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN MILLS. >> Reporter: I FEEL LIKE IT'S A WINTER WONDERLAND, IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL. EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK IT'S FESTIVE AND EVERYWHERE THERE ARE LIGHTS. THIS IS THE THIRD ANNUAL TOWER LIGHTING ON THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN CAMPUS. IT'S A BABY HAPPENING HERE COMPARED TO THE ONE IN RALEIGH. WE ARE HAPPY TO ENJOY THE TIME HONORED LIGHTING. 400 LIGHTS COVERING THIS ENTIRE TOWER HERE. IT WILL BE BEAUTIFUL AS A CENTERPIECE. IT ALREADY IS FABULOUS. EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, I'M TELLING YOU GUYS IS PICTURESQUE. I WOULD SING FOR YOU BUT I WON'T DO THAT. LET'S GET OVER TO GERALD OWENS AT THE TOBACCO CAMPUS IN DURHAM. IT IS PRETTY THERE AS WELL. >> THE PANDEMIC DID NOT SAP THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT. LOOK AT THIS PLACE, ALL DECKED OUT FOR THE HOLIDAYS. THEY OUTDID THEMSELVES IN GETTING THIS PLACE READY FOR THE TOWER LIGHTING SPECIAL. IN A FEW MINUTES WE WILL LIGHT THIS FOR THE 16th YEAR. IT WILL SHINE BRIGHTLY OVER DURUM FOR THE NEXT MONTH. IT WILL BE A FESTIVE EVENT, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE A CROWD HERE. THERE'S PLENTY OF ATMOSPHERE IN DURHAM TONIGHT. >> IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL, GERALD, THANKS. >> WE WILL CHECK IN WITH YOU IN A FEW MINUTES. >> ARE YOU READY TO LIGHT OUR FIRST TOWER? >> WE HAVE BEEN WAITING AND LENA HAS TO POWER IN HER HANDS. >> DON'T GIVE ME THIS MUCH POWER, I'M SO EXCITED TO USE THIS BUTTON. THIS IS THE FIRST ONE, EVERYONE AT HOME, I KNOW WE CAN'T DO IT TOGETHER BUT WE CAN DO IT THROUGH THE STREAM AIR. ARE YOU READY? COUNT DOWN FROM 10. ARE YOU READY? 10, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX, FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE, LIGHT THE TOWER. AND IT IS FABULOUS, AS EXPECTED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN CAMPUS, IT'S SO LOVELY. I LOVE WHAT THE PROPERTY MANAGERS SAY, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT A LIGHTING OF EIGHT HOW ARE, IT'S A BEACON OF LIGHT. IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR AND FOLKS CAN HAVE SOMETHING LOVELY TO SMILE AT, AS WELL. THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WILL DEFINITELY SMILE AT, AS WELL. A MARVELOUS MUSICIAN FROM THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA. HE'S HEADED OUT TO PORTLAND TO START HIS MUSIC CAREER AND HE DECIDED TO BRING IT OUT HERE. HE WILL BE PERFORMING FOR YOU, RIGHT NOW. [ MUSIC PLAYING ] YOU WILL GET THAT SENTIMENTAL FEELING WHEN YOU HEAR. VOICES SINGING, LET'S BE JOLLY. DECK THE HALLS WITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY. ROCKING AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE, HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY. EVERYONE DANCING MERRILY. THAT NEW OLD-FASHIONED WAY. ROCKING AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE. HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY. EVERYONE IS DANCING MERRILY THAT NEW OLD-FASHIONED WAY. EVERYONE'S DANCING MERRILY THAT NEW OLD FASHION WAY. [ MUSIC PLAYING ] MERRY CHRISTMAS. >> I LOVE THAT. MY GOODNESS, THAT WAS QUITE THE INTERPRETATION OF ROCKING AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE. I LOVE THAT COVER, SO BEAUTIFUL. I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT THE FULL MOON RIGHT THERE. TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, IS NOT THAT BEAUTIFUL. IT SETS THE WHOLE SCENE. YES IT'S COLD OUT HERE, BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE IT ANY OTHER WAY. PERFECT FOR THE SEASON. BACK TO YOU GUYS. >> IT IS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. WE HAVE SNOW IN RALEIGH, ALONG WITH THE FULL MOON. >> WONDERFUL. WHAT A GREAT JOB BY WILL WEST. WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK WITH MORE FUN FROM THE WRAL TOWER LIGHTING SPECIAL. >> SANTA IS ON THE ROOFTOP PATIENTLY WAITING. THEY ARE THERE WITH MRS. CLAUSE AND PATIENTLY WAITING TO FLIP THE SWITCH ON THE TOWER. >>> WE WILL HEAR FROM A LOCAL BAND WITH AN INTERNATIONAL SOUND THAT WILL GET YOUR HEART POUNDING AND FEET TAPPING, COMING UP. [ MUSIC PLAYING ] >>> I'M DURUM REPORTER, SARA KRUEGER. I LIVE HERE IN DURHAM AND I'M SO EXCITED TO ENJOY THE LIGHTS ON THE AMERICAN TOBACCO CAMPUS. FROM THE NEWSROOM, HAPPY HOLIDAYS. >> I'M HERE AS WE PREPARE THE LIGHTS FOR THE LUCKY STRIKE TOWER FOR THE 16th STRAIGHT YEAR. THE PANDEMIC MEANS WE COULD NOT HAVE A CROWD. NORMALLY 4 TO 5000 PEOPLE WOULD BE PACKED IN FOR THIS EVENT. WE HAVE A GROUP HERE. IT'S AN INTERNATIONAL SOMBER, REGGAE SOUND. THIS IS CHRISTMAS MUSIC BUT THE DRUMS WILL GET YOUR BLOOD FLOWING. [ MUSIC PLAYING ] >> A LITTLE OUT-OF-THE-BOX FOR CHRISTMAS BUT IT WILL GET YOUR BLOOD BOWLING. WE ARE GOING TO LIKE THIS TOWER. I WILL STEP ASIDE. GO AHEAD AND PAN UP. 201 FEET UP TO THE TOP. HERE WE GO, ARE YOU READY? 10, NINE, EIGHT, 76, FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE. BINGO, THERE IT IS. THE LUCKY STRIKE IS ALL LIT UP AGAIN FOR THE 16th YEAR. IT IS BEAUTIFUL HERE. YOU'VE GOT TO GET DOWN HERE AND TAKE PICTURES WITH THE FAMILY, IT'S A WONDERFUL EVENT. >> THAT CAMPUS IS SO BEAUTIFUL TO BEGIN WITH. THAT ADDS TO IT TONIGHT. TWO OUT OF THREE ARE DONE. >> STILL WANT TO GO. >> WE HAVE ANOTHER HOLIDAY SPECIAL YOU WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF. IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS IN PERSON, IT IS TIME TO GET YOUR TICKETS. THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS HOLLOW THE TRADITION OF OUTDOOR LIGHTS ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING THIS ONE AT TANGLEWOOD PARK. TO BUY TICKETS GO TO WRAL.COM FLASHLIGHTS AND CLICK ON BUY TICKETS. YOU WILL RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION BY EMAIL, ONCE YOU COMPLETE YOUR PURCHASE. IT'S WORTH THE TIME AND EFFORT, IT WILL BE BEAUTIFUL. >> AND COVID SAFE. HAVE SOME HOLIDAY FUN. WRAL IS WORKING WITH THE SALVATION ARMY TO KEEP CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY WARM DURING THE COLD WINTER MONTHS. HERE'S HOW YOU CAN BE PART OF THE WRAL COATS FOR THE CHILDREN CAMPAIGN. TO DROP OFF NEW OR USED WINTER COATS, HATS OR GLOVES. TEXT THE WORD COATS TO THIS NUMBER OR MAKE A DONATION ONLINE. AND SEARCH THE WORD COATS, GIVING A LITTLE CAN HELP A LOT. CERTAINLY ON A DAY LIKE TODAY WHERE WE WILL SEE LOWS IN THE 20s TONIGHT, WE SEE THE NEED FOR THE GLOVES AND HATS AND WARM COATS. ESPECIALLY FOR THE CHILDREN IN OUR AREA. >> THE WINTER SEASON IS JUST BEGINNING. TWO OF THE THREE TOWERS ARE LIT. ONE IS LEFT. IT'S STILL IN THE DARK WITH 3000 LIGHTS. PLUS, A LIVE PERFORMANCE ON THE WRAL PLAZA. [ MUSIC PLAYING ] JINGLE BELLS JINGLE BELLS JINGLE ALL THE WAY. OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE IN A ONE HORSE OPEN SLEIGH. DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW. IN A ONE HORSE OPEN SLEIGH. OVER THE FIELDS WE GO. AND LAUGHING ALL THE WAY. BELLS ON BOB TELL RING. MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT. WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE AND SING A SLAYING SONG TONIGHT. JINGLE BELLS. JINGLE BELLS. TO JINGLE ALL THE WAY. OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE IN A ONE HORSE OPEN SLEIGH. JINGLE BELLS JINGLE BELLS JINGLE ALL THE WAY. OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE IN A ONE HORSE OPEN SLEIGH. [ MUSIC PLAYING ] >> WE ARE MINUTES AWAY FROM OUR GRAND FINALE. THE LIGHTING OF THE WRAL TOWER. SANTA AND MRS. CLAUSE ARE READY >> WELCOME BACK. YOU ARE LOOKING AT LIFE PICTURES FROM THE WRAL CAMPUS AND THE HISTORIC TV TIAWAH RIGHT NOW. WE ARE MINUTES AWAY FROM LIGHTING THE TOWER FOR THE 67th TIME AND SECOND TIME THIS YEAR. IT WILL BE 62nd ANNUAL TIME. WE LIT THE TOWER IN THE SPRING TO HONOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS WHEN THINGS WERE SO TERRIBLE AND TO TO LIFT THE SPIRITS OF PEOPLE. THEY REALLY APPRECIATED IT APPEARED >> THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO AGAIN. COVID HAS TAKEN OVER. >> I THINK FROSTY WILL BE OKAY. WE HAVE BEEN APART SO MANY YEARS. WE WORK TOGETHER 26 YEARS. IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL. EVERY YEAR. ALL OF THIS BEGAN IN THE LATE 1960s. AJ FLETCHER THE FOUNDER OF CAPITAL BROADCASTING WOULD READ A CHRISTMAS CAROL TO THE VIEWERS BEFORE THE TOWER WAS LIT. THAT TRADITION EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS. ONE TRADITION REMAINED THE SAME, OUR COMMITMENT OF GIVING TO THE COMMUNITY. THIS GIFT DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. 3000 LIGHTS COVERING THE 300 FOOT TOWER. IT WILL SHINE BRIGHTLY EVERY NIGHT THROUGH NEW YEAR'S DAY. >> MR. FLETCHER WILL SEE THAT WE HAVE THREE TOWERS, HE WOULD LIKE THAT. THAT'S PART OF HISTORY NOW. IT'S TIME TO LIGHT THE WRAL TOWER. >> WHO BETTER TO DO IT THEN SANTA AND MRS. CLAUSE. LOVE SEEING YOU THERE, TAKE IT AWAY. >> , , . LET'S START THE COUNTDOWN. SEVEN, SIX, FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE. MARY CHRISTMAS. >> THERE IT GOES. >> WHAT A GREAT SITE FROM SKY FIVE. BEAUTIFUL LET'S LISTEN. [ MUSIC PLAYING ] SLEIGH BELLS RINGING, CHOIR SINGING. WONDER WHAT OLD SANTA IS BRINGING. IT'S A WARM AND FUZZY TIME OF YEAR. [ MUSIC PLAYING ] SNOWFLAKES FALL AND THE TEMP IS DROPPING. WE ARE OUT TOGETHER SHOPPING. IT'S THE WARM AND FUZZY TIME OF YEAR. [ MUSIC PLAYING ] ELVES ARE WORKING OVERTIME. MAKING ALL THE TOYS. THE REINDEER CREWS ON ABOVE THE LITTLE GIRLS AND BOYS. CUPS OF HIS EVENING CIDER. FALL ASLEEP BY A COZY FIRE. IT'S THE WARM AND FUZZY TIME OF YEAR. IT'S THE WARM AND FUZZY TIME OF YEAR. [ MUSIC PLAYING ] >> GREAT JOB, BEAUTIFUL MUSIC. THAT'S FROM SOUNDTRACK QUARTET. THEY ARE A MODERN ARBOR SHOP QUARTET BASED IT HERE IN THE TRIANGLE. SOUNDED FANTASTIC. >> JUST BEAUTIFUL. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS SITE. WE WILL SHOW YOU EACH ONE OF THE CAPITAL BROADCASTING TOWERS , GLOWING TONIGHT FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON. FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE ALL THREE ON THE SAME NIGHT. IT IS BEAUTIFUL. EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA, DURHAM, AND IN THE STATE CAPITAL. >> WE KNOW THAT 2020 HAS MADE THE HOLIDAYS DIFFERENT FOR US THIS YEAR. WE JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU THIS GIFT. WE KNOW IT CAN'T BE QUITE THE SAME AS YEARS PAST WITH PEOPLE JOINING US HERE. WE STILL WANT TO WISH YOU ALL A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS. >> LENA, GERALD, HAPPY HOLIDAYS. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THE TWO OF YOU. GREAT JOB OUT THERE. LENA IN ROCKY MOUNT AND GERALD IN DURHAM. >> THANK YOU GUYS. >> THANKS SO MUCH. RIGHT BACK AT YOU. >> HAPPY HOLIDAYS. >> I WILL SAY THIS DAVID AND DEBORAH, I'VE DONE THIS AT AMERICAN TOBACCO FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. BEING ON STAGE DID NOT ALLOW ME TO APPRECIATE THE LIGHTS AND EVERYTHING ON THE CAMPUS THAT THEY PUT UP. RIGHT NOW I HAVE A WHOLE NEW APPRECIATION. I CAN SIT BACK AND LOOK AROUND, THIS IS A HOLIDAY SET TO SEE. GET OUT HERE BETWEEN NOW AND JANUARY 1st, DO IT. YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY. >> WHAT AN INCREDIBLE EVENING IT'S BEEN. >> WE WANT TO THANK OUR CREWS IN