#BaylorChristmas begins with Christmas on 5th Street

Last night, the Baylor campus hit “pause” on all the commotion surrounding football — GameDay, Big 12 talk, playoffs — to celebrate a cherished Baylor tradition: Christmas on 5th Street.

[SEE PHOTOS of Christmas on 5th Street]

Thousands of students, alumni and Wacoans filled the campus for Christmas fun. Organizations decorated individual trees with not just ornaments, but memories and points of pride. Carolers and choirs filled the air with songs of Christmas, and bountiful hot chocolate warmed our bellies. And though Central Texas rarely sees snowfall, we made our own snowstorm on the Vera Daniel Plaza.

At the heart of it all, of course, was what the season is really about. The live Nativity was never short of visitors, and the most-awaited event of the night was the KOT Christmas Tree Lighting, which began with a reading of the Christmas Story and a quick recounting of the Gospel. The night ended with performances by JOHNNYSWIM and The Lone Bellow at Waco Hall. The beauty and magic of the entire night was the perfect way to start the Christmas season.

Sic ’em, #BaylorChristmas!