NEWS

WT holds its annual Festival of Lights

Michael Cuviello
Amarillo Globe-News

The holiday season kicked off at West Texas A&M University (WT) on Thursday night in Canyon with its annual Festival of Lights.

A staple of WT tradition, the Festival of Lights began in 1990 and, with the exception of 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns, has been a yearly Christmas event for the university.

Featured at the event was the official lighting of WT’s Christmas lights and a winter carnival with a music quintet and the WT Chamber Singers to get the Christmas spirit going with holiday songs and music. WT President Walter Wendler gave remarks at the ceremony before the campus was illuminated with nearly 80,000 lights shining bright.

The Festival of Lights also included a hot chocolate bar, outdoor games, a photo booth, cookie and ornament decorating, and holiday treats for those who attended.

Attendees look on Thursday night at the WT lighting of the campus Christmas lights during the winter carnival in Canyon.
A WT student enjoys a cookie and hot cocoa during the Festival of Lights and winter carnival on the Canyon campus.
The WT Chamber Singers perform Thursday night at the WT lighting ceremony of the campus Christmas lights in Canyon.
A quintet of musicians plays Christmas music Thursday night at the WT Festival of Lights in Canyon.
Leticia Parra and her dog Sasha enjoy some hot chocolate Thursday night at the WT lighting of the campus Christmas lights and winter carnival in Canyon.
Mika Lion  and Tearanee Lockhart show off the Christmas spirit of the WT Black Student Union Thursday night at the WT Festival of Lights and winter carnival in Canyon.
Spectrum WT an LGBTQIA+ student organization passes out  treats Thursday night at the WT Festival of Lights and winter carnival in Canyon.
WT President Walter Wendler addresses the crowd Thursday night at the WT Festival of Lights and winter carnival in Canyon.