With no in-person component this year, the 2020 celebration, themed “The Matador Lights,” will instead be presented via livestream and local broadcast.
If there's one Texas Tech University tradition every Red Raider knows, it's the Carol of Lights®. Held each year near the end of the fall semester, the annual event concludes with the flick of a switch and the glow of more than 25,000 colored bulbs illuminating the 18 buildings around Memorial Circle, the Engineering Key and the Broadway entrance to campus.
The event is presented thanks to the hard work and dedication of students in the Texas Tech Residence Halls Association, part of University Student Housing. Despite the current COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Carol of Lights® will go on – with some changes. The biggest change? The event, themed "The Matador Lights," will be entirely virtual.
"There will be no in-person events associated with Carol of Lights® this year," said D'aun Green, senior associate managing director of University Student Housing. "By offering the event virtually, we can ensure that our beloved tradition continues while also supporting campus and city-wide efforts to adhere to health and safety guidelines and keep our community safe and healthy during the ongoing pandemic."
While Red Raiders may not be able to gather on campus, the hope is the thousands who planned to attend this year will still participate virtually by watching the event from the comfort and safety of their homes. The broadcast will be available on www.ttu.edu/livestream/ and will be aired on KTTZ beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 1.
"As we do every year, we have added a few new touches for 2020," Green said. "A lot of the ceremony will be a 'best of' compilation from the past five years that includes footage of the Torch Light Processional and images of the decorated campus."
Two things have not changed this year: the 38-foot-tall Christmas tree will still sit behind the Texas Tech seal at the Broadway entrance and the campus lights will still be turned on from dusk to midnight every night from Dec. 1 until Jan. 3.
"You are welcome to drive through campus to view the 'The Matador Lights' from your vehicle," Green said. "We hope to return to campus in-person next year to celebrate the 63rd Carol of Lights® ceremony."
For more information, visit the Carol of Lights® website.
