Merry Christmas (on 5th Street), Bears!

The tree in Burleson Quad is lit, and it’s officially Christmas on Baylor’s campus! Thursday night kicked off the most wonderful time of the year with the annual Christmas on 5th Street celebration.

As always, the classic entryway arch set the scene for this beloved Baylor tradition. A live nativity outside the Bill Daniel Student Center featured Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus (plus live camels and donkeys lounging around the stable). Groups lined up for a photo op in front of the giant red ornament, as horse-drawn carriages circled a green-lit Rosenbalm Fountain.

[VIRTUALLY TOUR Christmas on 5th via a Facebook Live video]

Over on Fountain Mall, students and families enjoyed a giant inflatable slide, an inflatable maze, a petting zoo, and pony rides. There was live music from a variety of choirs in the SUB Bowl, and the Christmas tree farm lit up Vara Martin Daniel Plaza.

The SUB was filled with Christmas cheer, as well! A Christmas market with local vendors filled the top floor, and families lined up in Barfield Drawing Room to take photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

[SEE PHOTOS from Christmas on 5th Street 2018]

A huge crowd gathered around Burleson Quadrangle to watch the annual KOT Christmas Tree lighting. As always, the Kappa Pickers sang and Dr. Alton Hassell read the story of Jesus’ birth from Luke 2. Dale Wallace of Vertical Ministries gave a short sermon and led the crowd in a very special moment of singing a verse of Amazing Grace. After quite a buildup, the tree and all of Burleson Quad lit up, accompanied by cannons of confetti that looked like snow!

Sic ’em, Christmas on 5th!