On Tuesday, November 30, the Entertainment Committee (EC) hosted the seventh Annual Holiday Tree Lighting, attracting over 1,000 students to one of the most highly attended events ever run by the EC. Even Attila the Duck was spotted walking around and taking pictures with students.
Students started lining up for food over 30 minutes prior to the start of the event. At 7 p.m., attendees checked in and flocked to the festive treats which included gingerbread men, apple cider donuts, challah bread, and hot chocolate. Just outside of Babbio Atrium, there were giveaways including mugs, tree ornaments, seasonal rubber ducks, and Christmas-themed plushies.
The first ever Winter Village hosted cultural and religious organizations, including the Iranian Association at Stevens, Latin American Association, and West Indian Student Organization, to highlight how different student groups are celebrating the holidays. The Russian Cultural Club allowed students to play a popular Russian card game and Stevens Christian Fellowship (SCF) was discussing why Christmas is celebrated.
A Menorah Lighting took place at 7 p.m. on Walker Lawn to celebrate the third night of Hanukkah.
From 7 to 9 p.m., students gathered around the Babbio Patio West stage to see performances from Stevens’ own Porchlight Band, All Time Snow, Julia Wierzbicki, Classifyde, Tyler Soiferman & Alec Pagano, and Leticia Gonzalez & Caitlin McLaughlin.
From 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. the second annual Santa Competition took place where several student organizations competed by having one club representative dress up as Santa, while other members dressed up as elves. Clubs received points for winning different games including limbo, “name that holiday tune,” and a blindfolded marshmallow toss. Alpha Phi Omega won the title of Stevens’ Santa, along with a pizza party.
Before the lighting, Stevens Choir, Quackapella, and Flocktaves performed in front of the tree. The main event took place at 9:30 p.m. at Walker Patio where students gathered to count down from 10 and watch the tree light up, accompanied with confetti and fake snow. Afterwards there were performances from The SCF Quartet and Sofia Lopez & Brandt Ryan.
Sophomore EC member Sophie Roper believes that “the event went really well! The people seemed to enjoy themselves and the tree lit up! Thank you to all who came to the event and to everyone who volunteered.” Alex Rubino, the Comedy Chair of EC, mentioned that “An incredible amount of work was done by the Entertainment Committee to make [the tree lighting] happen and it was an honor to be a part of it. Seeing our community come together after nearly two years of being apart is what made this night one that I’ll always be grateful for and will never forget.”
Be First to Comment