Event Details

The 65th Annual Carol of Lights, presented by Coca-Cola, will serve as the official closing ceremony for Texas Tech's Centennial Celebration. This annual event, hosted by the Residence Halls Association, is attended by thousands of students, alumni and members of the Lubbock community and is one of our largest and oldest traditions. This will be a spectacular evening for the entire family as we usher in Texas Tech's second century.

Presented By: 

Coca-Cola

Date

December 2, 2023

Times

6:30 p.m. - Carillon Concert
7 p.m. - Carol of Lights

Venue

Science Quadrangle, Texas Tech University

Location

Texas Tech University Campus, Lubbock, Texas

Featured Entertainment

Lost Wax

With the 2022 ceremony featuring country music, (Maines Brothers Band and Wade Bowen), this year we turn to a band that will provide hits spanning six decades of pop, rock, hip hop, and R&B. Lost Wax, the original mashup party band, will make its first trip to Lubbock as the headliner for this year's Carol of Lights and Centennial Closing Ceremony.  Their big band sound, complete with a dazzling horn section, will appeal to Red Raiders, young and old. Lost Wax was most recently featured as the house band at the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City.

Cirque Entertainment

For more than 25 years, the incredible artists from Cirque Entertainment have been entertaining audiences around the world. Attendees at this year's ceremony will get to experience the dazzling aerial artistry that has made Cirque performances some of the most sought after in the world.

Texas Tech University Choirs

The Texas Tech University combined choirs and the trombone choir will perform their traditional carols and audience favorites. The university choirs help make this event special year after year.

Special Performances By

Annie Chalex Boyle

Annie Chalex Boyle, Associate Professor of Violin at Texas Tech and Concertmaster for the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, will perform one of the most anticipated songs every year at Carol of Lights – “Oh Holy Night,” This stirring rendition promises to be one of the highlights of the evening.

Mariachi Los Matadores

Texas Tech's proud Hispanic heritage will be on display when the Mariachi Los Matadores take center stage for a special performance.

Welcoming a New Century

When the more than 25,000 Christmas lights are illuminated, Texas Tech will symbolically usher in its second century of service and officially close the year-long Centennial celebration. To help us celebrate the new century, the night sky over campus will be illuminated with a fireworks display and drone show.

Fireworks

One of the most popular additions to last year's ceremony is back for another year.

Drone Show

To showcase the innovative spirit on our campus, more than 400 drones will light up the night sky creating an unforgettable and mesmerizing experience for those in attendance. This will be the first drone show held on campus and in the city of Lubbock – ever!

Ticket Information

This is a free event. No tickets are required.

Broadcast Information

The 65th Annual Carol of Lights and Centennial Closing Ceremony will be televised locally in Lubbock on KTTZ-TV (PBS) and on KCBD (NBC). Red Raiders outside of the Lubbock viewing area can tune-in via livestream on Texas Tech's YouTube channel and via TexasTech+.

Television

KTTZ – PBS - Lubbock

KCBD – NBC - Lubbock

Streaming

YouTube | Link

TexasTech+ | Available on AppleTV, Roku, and Amazon Fire devices with no subscription required

Clear Bag Policy

For your safety and for the benefit of law enforcement, a clear bag policy will be in effect:

• Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVS and do not exceed 12”x6”x12”
• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziplock bag or similar)
• Small clutch bags, approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap will be allowed
• Exceptions will be made for medically necessary items

Please do not bring purses larger than a clutch, backpacks, fanny packs, cinch bags, briefcases, computer bags, diaper bags, etc.

City Street Closures

To ensure pedestrian safety, the following street closures will be in effect from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Saturday, December 2.

• Broadway Avenue (Avenue X to University)
• Northbound lanes of University Avenue from 15th Street to Main Street
• Southbound lanes of University Avenue from Glenna Goodacre to 15th Street

Parking

Public Parking, including ADA (Lot R2), will be available on the Texas Tech University campus. If you plan to park on campus, please be mindful of street closures and the current road construction project underway on 19th street adjacent to campus. A printable parking map has been created to assist you with on-campus parking.