Georgia Southern brightens the festive season with holiday cheer

On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, holiday celebrations with decorations, ornaments, hot chocolate, candy canes, laughter and lots of happy smiles took place at Georgia Southern University’s Willams Center, the University Programming Board and Office of Student Activities hosted its annual Christmas lighting event.

An annual Georgia Southern tradition since 2007, this event brings together Bulloch County students, faculty, staff and the community to kickstart the holiday season.

Due to weather conditions, the lighting event was moved to the Williams Center instead of the typical Sweetheart Circle venue, but that didn’t stop everyone from getting into the holiday spirit.

The event featured relaxing, festive holiday activities and treats to get everyone ready for the season.

One of these fan favorite activities was mug decorating, where each individual could decorate their own Christmas mug while sitting next to friends and family.

The university’s program board offered various stations where each participant could receive an endless serving of food prepared by the board or quench their thirst with warm hot chocolate.

The University Program Committee and Student Activities Office had volunteers to help people make this event a magical experience for the whole family. Student volunteers served food at the buffet table, assisted community members at decorating stations and more.

“It was a really good turnout, seeing all the ideas come together, and people enjoyed it, with all the food and different activities, and they really had a good time,” the university programming volunteer said Nadiyah McGill.

In addition to all the exciting activities, guests were able to take unforgettable photos with Santa Gus, the university’s mascot, against a Christmas backdrop. Santa Gus was out and about throughout the event, bringing smiles to the faces of “children from one to ninety-two,” as Nat “King” Cole once sang.

“Well, for us here at Georgia Southern, this has been a tradition, turning on the lights that symbolize the upcoming holiday season and everyone getting ready and getting ready for Thanksgiving and then the end of the semester with family to be grateful and be grateful. “So it’s a great tradition for our community to come together,” said the Georgia Southern University president Kyle Marrero.

Although the lights have not been turned on traditionally due to the unforeseen weather conditions, the lights will shine brightly for all visitors throughout the season.

What is certain is that the annual lighting of the Sweetheart Circle was still able to keep the Christmas magic that everyone looks forward to every year alive.