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 di

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