Nothing sparks holiday cheer quite like twinkling holiday lights – especially when there are more than 2,500 of them glimmering on all at once – and that’s just on Bass Commons. Thousands more adorn the Kirkman House.
The Holiday Lighting Ceremony is an annual tradition at Columbia College. This Dec. 5 event pulled Columbia College faculty, staff and students out of offices and classrooms at dusk and onto Bass Commons for the impressive display.
For the fourth year, the Kirkman House, which houses the Division of Graduate Studies’ boasts an animated display of more than 4,500 multicolored lights flashing in sync to holiday music. Passersby can tune into 106.5 FM for the full effect. If you stop by main campus or walk on to Bass Commons, you might also notice the Veterans Tree, a blue spruce in front of St. Clair Hall, which has been decked in red, white and blue lights since Veterans Day on Nov. 11.
A tradition started by former first lady Bonnie Brouder, the display draws the wonder of onlookers driving by in any direction. It’s a true testament to the teamwork of the maintenance staff, who spends countless hours in the cold, checking each bulb to assure this tradition goes off – or rather, turns on – without any problems. It’s the college’s way of wishing the community many blessings during the holidays!
The picture of the Christmas light scene is remakable. Can you give me any camera specs/info, ISO, fstop, shutter speed, lens, etc.?
Hi, Ron! Thank you so much for your kind words. Our college photographer, Kaci Smart, snapped that beautiful scene. The panoramic was taken in December of 2013 and consists of 3-4 photos stitched together in Photoshop. A Canon EOS 6D camera was used with a 28mm Canon lens. Because a tripod wasn’t used, the photo was shot at f/2.2, 1/60 shutter speed and an ISO 1600.