UF community invited for Holiday Gator lighting celebration
The Holiday Gator is the large, forged steel alligator sculpture crafted by UF alumna Leslie Tharp that has been placed on the lawn in celebration of the holidays each year since 2019.
Students, faculty, staff, families and friends are invited to the “Lighting of the Holiday Gator” starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1 on the lawn of the University Auditorium near the corner of Newell Drive and Union Road.
The Holiday Gator is the large, forged steel alligator sculpture that has been placed on the lawn in celebration of the coming holiday season each year since 2019.
This year’s festivities, set for 5 - 6 p.m., will feature performances by members of three UF student groups—the Gator Marching Band, the UF Sunshine Steelers and the UF Concert Choir—as well as hot chocolate, apple cider and other holiday treats.
President Kent Fuchs will welcome guests and lead the countdown to the ceremonial lighting of the alligator statue, which will glow with orange and blue LED lights throughout the remainder of the academic year.
“Our goal is to bring light to the dark of winter and to provide encouragement to everyone in the university community as the days get shorter and the semester comes to a close,” Fuchs said. “We also want to celebrate the season and its many holidays, including Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanza, with lights that everyone on campus can experience and enjoy.”
The university commissioned the sculpture from metal artist and UF College of the Arts alumna Leslie Tharp in the fall of 2019. Wednesday’s celebration will be the second since the statue was created, since last year’s festivities were cancelled due to the pandemic. The Holiday Gator will be on display through the last day of classes December 17.