An Atlanta holiday staple flickers out after 74 years as Macy's announces it's snuffing the flame on the Great Tree Lighting at Lenox Square, leaving many to reminisce over the decades-long tradition that brightened their holiday seasons, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
The tree lighting ceremony took root in 1948, bridging more than just the physical gap between the wings of Rich's Department Store—it linked generations of Atlanteans in a shared spectacle of light and festivity, according to FOX 5 Atlanta; it withstood the store's closure in 1991 and flourished briefly at Underground Atlanta before finding its winter soil atop Lenox Square in 2002. The gleam of tradition, though now dimmed, persists in hearts and stories.
Alongside the tree, another Rich's inheritance, Priscilla the Pink Pig—a cherished monorail that carried wide-eyed children through holiday tales atop the department store—had its curtain call in 2021, escalating concerns about eroding annual rites, as noted by GPB News. The original monorail cars are currently displayed at the Atlanta History Center, preserving a sliver of the yuletide magic for posterity.
In a statement to GPB News, Macy's said, "Each year, we evaluate our event programming and how we can best serve the metro Atlanta community. Recently, we made the decision to retire our Great Tree Lighting at our Macy's Lenox Square store." The announcement comes on the heels of another cancellation, the New Year’s Eve Peach Drop, but plans for upcoming events and fireworks at Underground Atlanta remain lit, attempting to keep the holiday cheer ablaze despite these major events falling like dominoes in the city's calendar.
As for the city's festivities, Macy's at Lenox Square assures its doors remain open, welcoming customers with holiday deals and styles and promising a different kind of glow to those seeking the comfort of tradition in the tangible wares of the commerce haven, discernible in the modern thrum of Atlanta's celebrated district, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
