As Christmas carols echoed out from buildings illuminated in white and red, the 67th Annual Carol of Lights kickstarted the holiday season and celebrated a historic Texas Tech football victory Sunday evening.
The event began with Residence Halls Association President Mary Shaw Davis and Tech President Lawrence Schovanec giving a brief overview of this year’s theme, the Gift of Tradition, where the focus was reflecting on the university’s history and recent milestones.
Shortly after, The War and Treaty, the band headlining the Carol of Lights with a musical concert, as well as the Combined and Trombone Choirs played renditions of classic holiday songs such as “White Christmas” and “Holy Night.”
“It sets the expectation and lets everybody know to be ready, Christmas is coming,” said Eric Martinez, a first-year mechanical engineering student from Amarillo, after seeing the event officially commence.
As people continued to pour into Memorial Circle, where the celebration was hosted, first-year animal science major Trae Foster said events like these are rare and show just how far Tech is willing to go to include the community.
The Christmas lights on Texas Tech buildings are revealed during the 67th Annual Carol of Lights celebration at the Science Quadrangle Dec. 7, 2025.
Cali Coiner
“You don’t see every college doing this,” the Abilene native said. “It’s pretty cool, and it brings out the entire city, not just the students.”
Following the performance, the lights themselves were switched on after a short countdown, illuminating the Science Quadrangle, Administration Building and other structures surrounding Memorial Circle in Christmas lights.
After waiting so long to see the lights turn on, Isabella Roberson, a first-year biology major from Austin, said it was gratifying to see Carol of Lights in full force.
“We’ve been watching them put up lights since, like, September, so it’s been cool seeing the whole process happen when we walk to class (and) see it all come together tonight,” Roberson said.
Not long after, Schovanec returned to the stage to introduce Joey McGuire, Tech football head coach, along with fifth-year quarterback Behren Morton and seventh-year linebacker Bryce Ramirez to recognize Tech’s win against Brigham Young University for the program’s first Edward Jones Big 12 Championship title on Saturday.
As McGuire gave a few words on the win and the crowd erupted in applause, second-year psychology major and Lubbock native Hailey Evans said the choice to highlight the victory brought even more joy to the celebration.
Members of the Texas Tech football team put their Guns Up during the playing of the ‘Matador Song’ at the 67th annual Carol of Lights Dec. 7, 2025. In Arlington, Texas the day prior Tech football won the Big 12 Championship for the first time in history.
Jadon Chesnutt
“Especially with the football team doing as much as they can to benefit (Tech), they put a lot of smiles on everybody’s face,” she said.
Andrew Evans, Hailey Evan’s husband and second-year mechanical engineering doctoral student from Greenville, also said showcasing the win boosted the morale of the student body and the self-assurance of Tech football.
“Having these wins is definitely big, but you gotta consider the big-dog wins, the big wins for (McGuire),” he said. “This one I definitely think not only boosted ego, but boosted confidence in their own capabilities and might have even broadened the horizons of the team.”
Yet, whether it be football or holiday cheer, Andrew Evans said he and his wife continue to return to Carol of Lights each year for its significance as the beginning to Tech’s Christmas season.
“This is a major event that brings me back every single time,” he said. “ … It always awakens that happiness, and I always look forward to it, which is a big part of why I wanted to share it with my wife, and that’s a big part why I’ve enjoyed that the tradition has become part of my family.”