MAGNOLIA—Prepare for the joyous upcoming holiday season by attending Southern Arkansas University’s annual Celebration of Lights on December 3. This year will mark the 26th anniversary of the Celebration of Lights and will include a special recognition of SAU’s Centennial celebration. Multiple student organizations will light the entire campus for everyone to enjoy. This year’s event begins before nightfall with vendors setting up from 2 to 7 p.m. in the Grove area in front of Overstreet. The vendors will offer seasonal crafts and the community is encouraged to come on out early, shop and get ready for the evening’s festivities.
The Magnolia Christmas Parade begins at 5 p.m. and continues at 6 p.m. with greetings and caroling and the RHA Celebration of Lights at Overstreet Hall. This segment of the evening on the lawn of Overstreet will include a special lighting of 100 trees to mark the closing of the Centennial Celebration. Holiday cookies, hot apple cider and hot chocolate will be served to get everyone in the Christmas spirit.
At 6:20 p.m., a program including ringing of hand bells will be provided by Central Baptist Church and Christmas entertainment will be provided by Miss SAU Valerie Brown will take place in the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center plaza. Christmas parade winners will be announced and the lighting of the Bell Tower will take place.
The entertaining night will continue with a special appearance from a visitor traveling all the way from the North Pole. Children are welcome to visit with Santa Claus, provide him with their Christmas wishes and have their photo made with him.
The evening concludes with a traditional holiday meal of carved ham and turkey served with honey mustard and giblet gravy, homemade corn bread dressing and cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, whole kernel corn, and green bean casserole. We will also have a tossed garden salad and fresh dinner rolls. For dessert we will be having pumpkin pie, pecan pie, sweet potato pie, and chocolate cream pie.
The dinner will be served from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Grand Hall of the Reynolds Center. Piano music will be provided by Magnolia resident Walter Hale. SAU students will eat free as will children under six-years-old. Tickets for children six through 12-years-old are $3.50 and tickets for adults are $7 per person. Tickets may be purchased in advance at Farmers Bank and Trust, BancorpSouth, Peoples Bank, the Magnolia Chamber of Commerce and the SAU Communications Center. Tickets will also be sold at the door on the night of the event. For more information, call (870) 235-4028.
