The 31st Annual Celebration of Lights at Southern Arkansas University on December 4, 2014, promises to spread holiday cheer with illuminating displays, festive song and food, free photos with Santa, and a special presentation of “A Christmas Carol.”
The Celebration of Lights will follow the Magnolia Christmas Parade, “Christmas Night of Lights,” which runs from 5-6 p.m. and finishes in front of SAU’s Overstreet Hall.
Following the conclusion of the parade will be the RHA Overstreet Lighting. SAU President Dr. David Rankin will share a few words, and the SAU Heritage and Chamber Singers will carol. The carolers will then lead the procession to the mall area for the Reynolds Center activities.
The announcement of the parade winners will take place around 6:20 p.m., followed by a performance by the Central Baptist Hand Bells and the lighting of the 187-foot SAU bell tower. Free photos with Santa, always a favorite event for families, will be from 6-8 p.m. in the Reynolds Center rotunda.
The annual holiday buffet dinner will be from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Reynolds Center Grand Hall. Tickets are $4 for children five-12; $8.50 for adults; and children under five eat free. Tickets will be available at the door the night of the event. The dinner menu includes carved ham and turkey served with honey mustard sauce and giblet gravy, homemade cornbread dressing and cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, whole kernel corn and green bean casserole. There will also be a tossed garden salad and fresh dinner rolls. For dessert, there will be pumpkin pie, pecan pie and chocolate cream pie.
SAU theatre is also opening “A Christmas Carol” at in conjunction with the Celebration of Lights. A special 8 p.m. show will give guests the opportunity to enjoy the other activities before heading to Harton Theater. Tickets can be purchased at the door, online at www.showtix4u.com, or by calling (870) 235-4256. Adult tickets are $8; student admission is $6. The play continues at 7 p.m. nightly from December 5-7, with an additional 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Dec. 7.
Also in the Reynolds Center at the Celebration of Lights will be three showings of the movie “Elf” in Foundation Hall at 3, 5 and 7 p.m. Free picture snow globe keepsakes will also be offered in the Reynolds Center from 4-8 p.m.
For more information, call (870) 235-4028.
