Lighting of the Quad transforms MC’s campus into a winter wonderland of Christmas lights
Mississippi College students like Caroline Cook say the Christmas season doesn’t officially begin until the traditional Lighting of the Quad on the Clinton campus.
From 7 to 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 2, thousands of holiday bulbs will bathe the idyllic heart of MC’s campus in a breathtaking display. Sponsored by the Campus Programming Board and the Office of Student Engagement, the event is free and open to the public.
Cook, a senior nursing major from New Albany, has attended the Christmas celebration for years and maintains it is her favorite on-campus event.
“I have had wonderful experiences every year,” said Cook, a student member of the university’s Lighting of the Quad Committee that plans the event. “I love getting to celebrate Christmas and take fun pictures with my friends. To be at a school that goes all out for Christmas décor is simply perfect.”
Along with the impressive lighting display, the ceremony will include several family-friendly activities that provide an immersive experience reflecting this year’s theme, “MC’s Christmas Village.”
Among the highlights: a countdown and reveal of the Christmas lights; a special reading of the Christmas story, sharing the Gospel account of Jesus’s birth and explaining why Christians worldwide celebrate the season; a visit from Santa Claus; photo opportunities; hot cocoa and Christmas cookies; and a fun community Christmas craft.
“We hope that everyone can step onto the Quad and feel like they are in a different world,” Cook said. “I am looking forward to seeing everyone enjoy the decorations and activities. They should also look out for our huge gingerbread house.”
Cook said the event is not to be missed.
“We want people to experience the love and joy that surrounds Christmas, the kind that ultimately comes from the gift of the birth of Christ,” she said.
“We are looking forward to seeing MC students, faculty, staff and community members all come together to celebrate the season and enjoy time together. I am honored to be a part of that at MC.”
After the official lighting ceremony, the Quad will continue to be lit in the evenings through Christmas Day, Thursday, Dec. 25.
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