Macy's Presents the 27th Annual Great Tree Lighting Ceremony in Union Square

Macy's will celebrate the start of the holiday season with the 27th Annual Great Tree Lighting Ceremony in San Francisco's Union Square on Friday, November 25, at 6 p.m. Following an evening of special musical performances, the Great Tree Lighting Ceremony will culminate with the presentation of Macy's annual gift to San Francisco - a beautiful, reusable, 83-foot tree decorated with more than 33,000 twinkling energy-efficient LED lights and 1,100 shining ornaments.

Featuring a special performance by singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc, known for his hit songs "I Need a Dollar", "The Man" and "Wake Me Up," the evening will also include performances by the San Francisco Boys Chorus, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir and the cast of She Loves Me from San Francisco Playhouse's upcoming production.

"Macy's is proud to kick off the holiday season by presenting the Great Tree to the City of San Francisco," said Macy's District Vice President Jane Mitchell. "At Macy's, the holiday spirit presents an opportunity for us to give back, not just to our loved ones, but to our communities as well. The tree is our annual gift to the city of San Francisco, bringing the nostalgia and magic of the holidays to residents and visitors alike."

San Francisco's most recognized Christmas tree will be lit at the end of the ceremony, around 6:40 p.m. Those inspired by Macy's Great Tree in Union Square can visit the festive Holiday Lane on the seventh floor of Macy's Union Square to see the lavishly decorated Christmas trees, thousands of ornaments and other embellishments for the home. The holidays would not be the same without a trip to see Santa. Old St. Nick will listen to holiday wishes and be available for portraits in Macy's Santaland®, also on the seventh floor, starting Friday, November 27 through Saturday, December 24.

For the sixteenth year, Aflac is partnering with Macy's to provide holiday happiness. The 2016 Aflac Holiday duck is available for purchase in two sizes, 6-inch for $10 and 10-inch for $15. 100% of net proceeds will benefit children's cancer hospitals across the country. The ducks are available at Macy's, macys.com and aflacducprints.com.

BalSam Hill has been spreading Christmas cheer to families around the world for the past decade with their highly-realistic artificial Christmas trees and holiday décor. To celebrate their 10th anniversary and the season of giving, BalSam Hill is partnering with Macy's to bring the magic of Christmas to life. At the tree lighting event, they will host a holiday theme decorated photo booth providing guests the ability to capture their own special moment in a photo strip or video to take home and share.

About Macy's
Macy's, the largest retail brand of Macy's, Inc. (NYSE:M), delivers fashion and affordable luxury to customers at approximately 734 locations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam, as well as to customers in the U.S. and more than 100 international destinations through its leading online store at macys.com. Via its stores, e-commerce site, mobile and social platforms, Macy's offers distinctive assortments including the most desired family of exclusive and fashion brands for him, her and home. Macy's is known for such epic events as Macy's 4th of July Fireworks® and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade®, as well as spectacular fashion shows, culinary events, flower shows and celebrity appearances. Macy's flagship stores -- including Herald Square in New York City, Union Square in San Francisco, State Street in Chicago, and Dadeland in Miami and South Coast Plaza in southern California -- are known internationally and are leading destinations for visitors. Building on a more than 150-year tradition, and with the collective support of customers and employees, Macy's helps strengthen communities by supporting local and national charities giving more than $69 million each year to help make a difference in the lives of our customers.