On Friday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. the Union Program Council (UPC) held the second annual Idaho State University Tree Lighting Event outside the Student Union Building on the quad. Despite uncooperative weather — rain swelled from a fine mist to distinguishable drops at times — the event went off successfully.
Featuring a 32-foot tall tree trimmed with Bengal-themed ornaments in appropriately orange and black colors, the event drew a crowd of over one hundred throughout the night. The height and sheer size of the tree led many attendees to question whether or not it was a real tree, although further investigation showed that it was.
The first hundred attendees received ornaments reminiscent of those on the tree.
At the designated time, President Arthur Vailas spoke briefly and the dozens of strings of lights on the tree were turned on. Jordyn Roberts, a freshman psychology major said, “The whole tree just lit up.”
Along with the tree lighting, the event included multiple other holiday activities. While some guests posed for photos in front of the tree, others took horse-drawn carriage rides around the quad. An interactive ice sculpture carved into a chair stood near the tree, and some attendees amused themselves by daring to sit on it.
Inside the SUB, children and adults alike posed for photos with Santa, while others completed a holiday craft activity.
Attendees were invited to decorate sugar cookies with icing and festive sprinkles, or sip hot chocolate.
A piano was set up in one corner with the ISU Chamber Choir surrounding it, lending the scene a background of traditional Christmas carols.
Kevin Rall, a third-year English major, felt that the event was very well put together. “[UPC has] basically taken all of the most iconic parts of the holiday season and put them together. It looks like a Christmas card just landed on the quad,” he said. “All we need is snow.”
His only complaint? “These sugar cookies are really hard.”
Sam Johnson, a freshman international relations student, felt that the tree lighting ceremony was indicative of the arrival of Christmas.
“Christmas is magical,” she commented. “It’s my all-time favorite holiday. All of winter just rocks my socks off. I look forward to it all year.”
