Lamar University lights up for the holidays

‘Tis the season to be merry and bright during the entire month of December as Lamar University is once again teaming up with ExxonMobil to help Southeast Texans get in the holiday spirit with two festive events – Cardinal Lights and Christmas in Boomtown: City in Lights.

Families are invited to take a slow drive through the Lamar University campus to enjoy thousands of lights that ladorn trees and illuminate campus buildings around Jimmy Simmons Boulevard, Jim Gilligan Way and the Rolfe Christopher Drive entrance to campus through the entire month of December.

A celebratory lighting ceremony will be held Thursday, Dec. 1, at the Wayne A. Reaud Building courtyard at 5:45 p.m. Located at 985 Jim Gilligan Way, the three-story building houses administrative offices, marketing, institutional research and reporting, information technology functions, reception areas and the Reaud Honors College. Nearly 100 of the university’s 1,300 employees work in the building on the south end of the Lamar University campus.

This family friendly event will include activities for children, hot chocolate, cookies and a firework show. A friendly competition between Lamar University staff members will help decide which staff member, and their family, who will flip the switch and turn on the beautiful Cardinal lights. Any guest attending the event will also receive a coupon to save 10% on a ticket to see the Lamar men’s basketball team play Texas State later that evening at 7:30 p.m. inside the Montagne Center.

“Cardinal Lights is going to be something special for the entire Southeast Texas community,” said Shelbe Rodriguez, Lamar University’s public affairs manager. “With everything from hot cocoa and cookies to a festive holiday light display, we’re inviting families, students and the entire community to come out to campus to celebrate the holiday season with us. This event is a fun and interactive way for us all to come together on the Lamar University campus.”

Beginning Friday, Dec. 2 through Dec. 31, the community is also encouraged to visit Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown at 5550 Jimmy Simmons Blvd. near the campus of Lamar University and see the city decked out in lights. Entrance times are 2-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 5-9 p.m. on Sunday.

Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown is a replica of the boomtown that grew up around the Spindletop oil fields in the early 1900s. The Spindletop oilfield, discovered on a salt dome formation south of Beaumont in eastern Jefferson County on January 10, 1901, marked the birth of the modern petroleum industry. The Lucas geyser, found at a depth of 1,139 feet, blew a stream of oil over 100 feet high until it was capped nine days later and flowed an estimated 100,000 barrels a day.

The discovery of the Spindletop oilfield had an almost incalculable effect on world history, as well as Texas history. Eager to find similar deposits, investors spent billions of dollars throughout the Lone Star state in search of oil and natural gas. The cheap fuel they found helped to revolutionize American transportation and industry. Storage facilities, pipelines, and major refining units were built in the Beaumont, Port Arthur, Sabine Pass and Orange areas around Spindletop.

“Christmas in Boomtown: City in Lights is a great tradition for everyone,” said Troy Gray, director of the Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown. “We will have 16 buildings decorated along with holiday music, storybook readings by Santa Claus and his elves, crafts, games, snow ball fun on certain days.”

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors 60 years and older, $2 for children ages 6-12 and free for kiddos 5 and under. Those who bring five nonperishable food items will receive free admission and the items will then be donated to the Southeast Texas Food Bank.

Gray added that last December was the museum’s best month for most visitors and highest revenue.

“Last year, we utilized the land and the buildings to show the holiday spirit,” said Gray. “With the Christmas light being invented in 1883, there is a strong possibility that someone used their earnings from the new oil field in 1901 to lighten up their tree with electric lights.”

Information regarding Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown, call (409) 880-1750.

-Chad Cooper, Entertainment Editor