TCU students celebrated the kickoff of Christmas with the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Tuesday in the Campus Commons.
We kicked off the Christmas season with a bang at tonight’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting! #TCUchristmas ??? pic.twitter.com/eLr1MO629Y
— TCU (@TCU) November 28, 2018
Student Activities and the Student Government Association (SGA) work together every year to create the winter wonderland in the heart of campus. Planning for the event begins in May with most of the funding for the tree lighting coming from TCU Donors while SGA also helps fund the event.
“SGA budgets around $45,000 for this event,” said Brad Thompson, Student Activities director. “Student Activities also puts in additional money towards the event.”
Each year SGA, Student Activities and TCU Donors spend more and more on the event, breaking the record each year.
For the second year in the row, American folk-pop music duo from Tennessee, Johnnyswim performed in front of the 43-foot tall Christmas tree.
“One of my favorite parts is that everyone comes together for the night,” said Chancellor Victor Boschini.
This tradition brings thousands of TCU Horned Frogs and Fort Worth residents to campus.
“It’s the first year I’ve been since graduating, and I wanted to bring my daughter now that she’s old enough,” said Rebecca Joslin, TCU graduate. “We live in Fort Worth, so it’s the perfect event for our family.”
Visitors had the opportunity to write and send letters to Santa from TCU. SuperFrog Santa was also spotted taking pictures with visitors.
“I like seeing that everyone kind of acts like a kid for the night,” Boschini said. “I think it’s well worth the amount of money spent to bring people together.”
The celebration concluded with classic TCU fireworks.
“This is my second year attending and I like the fireworks the best – they are really cool,” said senior entrepreneurial management major Parker Mitchem. “TCU should do more things to get all the students in the commons.”
