A very special guest spends his evening on SAU’s campus each year for Celebration of Lights.
Southern Arkansas University’s 41st Annual Celebration of Lights on December 5, 2024, will offer an abundance of holiday cheer with festive lighting displays, photos with Santa, train rides, festive food, and a special presentation of “Merry Madagascar.”
SAU’s Celebration of Lights began in 1984 as a lighting display to enhance SAU’s seventy-fifth-year celebration. It included a tree in front of Overstreet and lights strung all over campus. Over the years, the lighting displays grew larger, and in 1988, SAU strung lights along the sides of the Bell Tower, turning it into a cherished monument of the yearly celebration – SAU’s holiday candle.
The complete schedule of events is as follows:
- Family Christmas Movie: “Merry Madagascar”: Foundation Hall | 3, 5, and 7 p.m.
- Personalized Snow Globes: Reynolds Center | 3-7 p.m.
- Ferris Wheel and Train Rides: Mall Area | 4-8 p.m.
- Magnolia Christmas Parade: “Bright Lights, Magnolia Nights” | 5:30-6:30 p.m.
- Storytime with Mrs. Claus: Magale Library | 5, 6, and 7 p.m.
- RHA Overstreet Lighting: Overstreet Hall | 6:30 p.m.
- Lighting of the Bell Tower: Mall Area | Immediately following Overstreet Lighting
- Photos with Santa: Reynolds Center | 6-8 p.m.
- Buffet Dinner: Reynolds Center, Grand Hall | 6-8 p.m.
Activities in Reynolds Center begin at 3:00 p.m. with the first showing of “Merry Madagascar” in Foundation Hall. Two other showings will take place at 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The creation of personalized snow globes will begin at 3:00 p.m. and conclude at 7:00 p.m. in Reynolds 208. Photos with Santa will be taken free of charge to all families in the Reynolds Rotunda from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Ferris Wheel and train rides begin in the campus Mall Area at 4:00 p.m. and continue until 8:00 p.m. Story Time with Mrs. Claus is held in Magale Library at 5:00, 6:00, and 7:00 p.m. Free “Frosty The Snowman” storybooks will be available while supplies last. The festivities continue at Overstreet Hall following the arrival of the Magnolia Christmas Parade, “Bright Lights, Magnolia Nights,” which runs from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. The parade concludes in the Reynolds Center parking lot.
Mrs. Claus reads a holiday book in Magale Library.
Following the parade, the Residence Hall Association will begin the Overstreet Lighting, with SAU President Dr. Bruno Hicks offering greetings before the lighting of the SAU Holiday Tree. After the parade winners are announced, all are invited to the Mall Area for the lighting of the Bell Tower.
The annual holiday buffet dinner and Christmas music will take place in Reynolds Grand Hall from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door. Adult tickets are $11.09 and children’s tickets (ages 5-12) are $5.69. Children under the age of five eat free of charge. For more information, call 870-235-4045.
SAU hopes to see the community gather to enjoy the festivities and spread holiday cheer!
