Students, faculty, staff, families, and friends are invited to the fifth annual Lighting of the Holiday Gator from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 on the lawn of the University Auditorium near the corner of Newell Drive and Union Road.

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University of Florida

UF community invited to fifth annual Holiday Gator lighting celebration

Halle Burton
December 2, 2024

Students, faculty, staff, families, and friends are invited to the fifth annual “Lighting of the Holiday Gator” from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 on the lawn of the University Auditorium near the corner of Newell Drive and Union Road.

Created by University of Florida College of the Arts alumna Leslie Tharp, the Holiday Gator is the large, forged steel alligator sculpture that has been placed on the lawn in celebration of the holiday season each year since 2019.

Interim UF President Kent Fuchs will welcome guests and lead the countdown to the ceremonial lighting of the sculpture, which will glow with orange and blue LED lights until Dec. 23. 

 “The ‘Lighting of the Holiday Gator’ is a fun way to celebrate the start of the holiday season, with lights, music, cookies, cocoa and other treats to be enjoyed by everyone in the UF community and their families and friends,” Fuchs said.

This year’s festivities will feature hot chocolate, apple cider, and other holiday treats, as well as performances by members of three UF student groups: the Gator Marching Band, the UF Sunshine Steelers, and the UF Concert Choir.