We're With the Band
This festive season burns orange as a new tradition arrives at UT Austin
Move over, red and green. This holiday season, Austin will be decking out the streets with white and orange. In a new display of school spirit, The University of Texas at Austin just announced a new holiday tradition: a dazzling light show called the Longhorn Lights.
This light spectacle, which is free and open to the public, begins on Wednesday, November 29, at a kick-off event with UT President Jay Hartzell, the Longhorn Band, UT Pom and Cheer Squads, and live mascot Bevo.
24 heritage oak trees on the strip known as βThe Dragβ β along Guadalupe between 21st and 24th Streets β will be dressed up with dancing lights featuring the signature burnt orange and white colors of the university.
This new installation joins many across Austin, bringing lights with their own themes: the traditional Trail of Lights at Zilker Park, the crafty display and market at Community First Village, and a futuristic, immersive holiday-scape, to name a few. By dressing up the campus, UT hopes to bring some fun festive cheer to the Longhorn Nation and Austinites alike.
βOur University is proud to support and engage with Austin and our extended community in many ways,β said Hartzell in a release. βThis new magical display will connect individuals and families to our campus and we hope this is the start of a joyful, entertaining tradition. Beyond the value for our community, this is also especially important for the health and wellbeing of our students as we give them a reason and place to take a break from studying for finals.β
Each night drivers and passersby can enjoy the light show synchronized to popular songs as performed by the Longhorn Band such as βThe Eyes of Texas,β βWabash Cannonball,β βTexas Fight,β βMarch Grandioso,β βDeep in the Heart of Texasβ and βThe Yellow Rose of Texas.β
Longhorn Lights will run every night from 5-10 pm until January 1. For more information visit utexas.edu.