The day after Thanksgiving marks a moment of pure Birmingham magic. Families bundle up, food trucks line 5th Avenue North, and the city gathers at the base of the Regions Center as twilight settles in. This Friday, November 28, at approximately 5:15 p.m., a switch will be flipped—and suddenly, downtown is glowing with two 30-story Christmas trees, a giant wreath, and a festive stocking that can be seen from planes descending into Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.

For most people, the ceremony is a holiday tradition. But for one man, it’s the culmination of months of detailed, hands-on work.

The Man Behind the Glow

Working to install every light inside of Regions Center is Alexander Newell, the primary technician responsible for bringing Birmingham’s tallest Christmas display to life.

Newell, who works for BGIS, has been assigned full-time to the Regions Center for 13 years. While he didn’t start out installing the Christmas display, for the past four years he’s been the one carefully fitting thousands of lights and coloring each window with red and green gel sleeves. The work is repetitive, precise, and easy to overlook. But without it, the Birmingham skyline wouldn’t sparkle with the same holiday spirit generations have grown up loving.

He installs every gel sleeve by hand—nearly 2,700 windows’ worth—ensuring each light shines exactly where it should in the massive illuminated grid.

“I enjoy brightening up the city,” Newell says. “Seeing the kids’ faces when it lights up… when those lights come on, you know it’s officially Christmas time.”

The pride in his voice reflects what many Birmingham residents feel when the tower glows for the first time each season: nostalgia, joy, and the unmistakable beginning of the holidays.

A Tradition Rooted in the 1970s

Though Newell now plays the most hands-on role, the tradition itself dates back to the late 1970s, when the skyscraper first turned its windows into glowing holiday designs. Over the decades, the display has become one of Birmingham’s most recognizable seasonal landmarks. Regions Executive Vice President Deno Posey will lead this year’s ceremonial switch-flip, as he has for years.

“Every year since the 1970s, this building has celebrated the season in a way that’s become a Birmingham tradition,” Posey says. “There’s a lot of work that goes into this and a lot of testing to make sure all the right lights and all the right colors are in place.”

That work—months of preparation—includes aligning floor-by-floor grids, testing lights between the fifth and 28th floors, and ensuring the iconic designs shine crisp and clear. Newell’s meticulous attention ensures that when the ceremony arrives, the building is ready to glow.

A Celebration Filled with Music and Community

This year’s lighting ceremony on Friday, November 28 brings even more excitement. Starting around 4:30 p.m., visitors can enjoy warm coffee, festive eats from local food trucks, and a family-friendly atmosphere leading up to the switch-flip.

The Birmingham Youth and Young Adult Fellowship Choir, known for reaching the semifinals on America’s Got Talent, will perform under the direction of Regions banker Aaliyah Ross. Rising country/pop singer-songwriter Marissa Luna, a Birmingham-area native, will take the stage as well, sharing her voice with the growing hometown audience that has followed her career. Students from Mason Music will also perform, adding another layer of local artistry to the evening. And after the tower lights up the skyline, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available for photos and visits with children.

Lighting Up the Season Once More

The display will illuminate the Birmingham skyline nightly through New Year’s Day before transitioning into the giant glowing golfer that appears ahead of the Regions Tradition each spring.

While thousands gather outside to celebrate the glow, Newell knows what it took to make it happen: patience, precision, and a whole lot of holiday spirit. Thanks to him, Birmingham will step into the season once again—brighter than ever.