The 56th annual Carol of Lights lit up the Texas Tech University campus on Tuesday night as onlookers gathered in their winter gear waiting for that moment marking the beginning of the holiday season.
Total darkness filled the sky, and then it happened. The geosciences building adorned with a 20-f00t wreath lit up, and the crowd cheered and clapped. People hugged one another and used the moment as an opportunity to take pictures of themselves in front of the brightly lit buildings and archways.
Freshman Sarah Hamby said she came to Texas Tech eager to start anew outside of her hometown of Albuquerque, N.M. She said the longstanding event was the talk around campus, so she wanted to see it for herself. She smiled as she talked about how powerful and holiday inspiring the evening was.
“I was so excited,” Hamby said, “it puts a big smile on my face to see this kind of tradition.”