Tennessee Tech hosts annual ‘Lighting the Quad’ on Dec. 2 - News

Tennessee Tech hosts annual ‘Lighting the Quad’ on Dec. 2

Tennessee Tech's historic main quad is illuminated in holiday lights.
Tennessee Tech's annual Lighting the Quad celebration will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 5:30 P.M. The lights will be illuminated each night through the end of the year.

Tennessee Tech University will kick off the holiday season by flipping the switch on thousands of holiday lights at the annual “Lighting the Quad” on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m. The free event is held on the university’s historic main quad and is open to the public. 

“This event is one of our favorite campus traditions and is always a highlight of the holiday season for our family,” said Tech First Lady Kari Oldham. “We invite all Golden Eagle students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends and neighbors to bring their families and join us for this special event as we celebrate the magic of the season and the spirit of our Tennessee Tech community.”

Started by First Lady Oldham in 2017, Lighting the Quad features dazzling holiday lights, music, hot chocolate, commemorative t-shirts, selfie stations and more. Games, refreshments and additional photo-op spaces will be available inside Memorial Gym just off the main quad. In the event of inclement weather, a rain date has been scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 4 at 5:30 p.m.

President and First Lady Oldham stand at a podium with holiday lights in the foreground.
Tech President Phil Oldham and First Lady Kari Oldham take part in last year’s Lighting the Quad ceremony. The tradition was started by First Lady Oldham in 2017.


All told, this year’s light display will include more than 1,000 feet of illuminated trees and over 40,000 individual lights. The display’s centerpiece is a 35-foot-tall tree lit in Tech’s signature purple. 

Once illuminated at Tuesday’s ceremony, Tech’s holiday lights will be available to enjoy throughout the rest of the year, beginning daily at 5 p.m. The community is invited to come out and experience the lights with their friends and loved ones, and to share their photos on social media using #TNTechLights.

Learn more at www.tntech.edu/lightingthequad/