The 32nd Annual Celebration of Lights at Southern Arkansas University on December 3, 2015, promises to spread holiday cheer with illuminating displays, festive song and food, free photos with Santa, and a Polar Express theme.
SAU’s festivities get started at 3 p.m. with the first of three showings of the family Christmas movie “Polar Express” in the Reynolds Center Foundation Hall. Repeat showings will be at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. New this year at the Celebration of Lights is a Polar Express Train, which will carry guests of all ages through illuminated archways around the SAU Mall from 4-8 p.m.
The Celebration of Lights will follow the Magnolia Christmas Parade, “Candy Canes and Christmas Carols,” 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. Trey Berry will share a few words, the SAU Heritage and Chamber Singers will carol, and the Christmas tree and Centennial Tree will officially be lit. 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 the announcement of the parade winners 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. Also available at the Reynolds Center from 4-8 p.m. are free picture snow globes.
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.
For more information, call (870) 235-4028.
