Macy's Great Tree, Annual Christmas tree installation at Lenox Square Mall in Atlanta, United States.
Macy's Great Tree was a large live evergreen Christmas tree installed at the main entrance of Lenox Square Mall in Atlanta, Georgia, fully lit during the holiday season. It stood roughly 70 to 90 feet (21 to 27 meters) tall, making it visible from a considerable distance across the mall parking area.
The tradition started in 1948 as a holiday display by Rich's department store, which was a well-known Atlanta retailer at the time. After Macy's took over the store in 2006, the display continued under the new name until it was retired in December 2023.
The lighting ceremony drew large crowds each year and was seen by many Atlanta families as the true start of the holiday season. People returned year after year to watch the lights come on together in the same spot.
The tree stood at the main entrance of Lenox Square Mall and could be seen from the parking area before even entering the building. The official lighting ceremony offered a special experience, but the display was worth seeing at any point during the holiday season.
In 1961, the tree appeared on the cover of Time magazine, an unusual distinction for a seasonal department store decoration. That moment of national attention helped cement its reputation far beyond the Atlanta area.
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