Baylor's Christmas on 5th Street, Tree Lighting to be Live Streamed Thursday

Virtual Christmas celebration includes traditional favorites, performances, Christmas message

WACO, Texas (Dec. 2, 2020) – Baylor University will host its annual Christmas on 5th Street – complete with everyone's favorite Baylor Christmas traditions live streamed on the University's official Facebook page – beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3. The live stream also is available on the Virtual Student Programs platform.

Due to COVID-19, the 54-year-old tradition will continue virtually this year with appearances by President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., Grammy Award-winning gospel artist Kirk Franklin, Baylor Religious Hour Choir and Santa Claus himself. The virtual evening will culminate with a live Christmas tree lighting hosted by Kappa Omega Tau (KOT). 

Dale Wallace, BBA ’15, pastor of Vertical Ministries, will serve as the host for the evening. Mandy McMichael, Ph.D., associate director of the Ministry Guidance program and The J. David Slover Assistant Professor of Ministry Guidance in the department of religion, will offer a Christmas message.

Students, faculty, staff and all members of the Baylor Family can enjoy their favorite Baylor Christmas traditions live streamed to their living room, including the iconic life-sized Christmas on 5th ornament, Santa enjoying a carriage ride through campus, Bill Daniel Student Center Christmas Tree, Live Nativity and the Christmas tree lighting. 

Christmas on 5^th Street has been hosted annually the Thursday following the Thanksgiving holiday since 1966. This year’s event will not include any in-person activities with students returning home for the holiday break to finish the fall semester and complete finals.

Traditional Christmas activities have included horse-drawn carriage rides, pictures with Santa, live performances from Baylor Religious Hour Choir, carols from around the world, Christmas marketplace, and local food trucks serving holiday favorites.

2020 Traditions Ornament

The Baylor Family also can celebrate Christmas with timeless symbols of the Baylor spirit proudly displayed on their Christmas trees. The 2020 Traditions Ornament features a stained-glass window depicting the word “Hope,” its design taking inspiration from the windows of Memorial Chapel — a community worship space inside Memorial Hall. Constructed out of brass and individually packaged in custom boxes, these ornaments will brighten homes during the Christmas season or be a perfect gift to a special Bear.

In addition, the Baylor Family can order the Complete Legacy Collection, in celebration of the program’s fifth anniversary, that includes the Baylor University Seal, 2016 Bear Mascot, 2017 Judge Baylor, 2018 Sailor Bear, 2019 Baylor United and 2020 Hope Ornaments alongside an exclusive Ornament Display Hanger. The Ornament Display Hangers are each handcrafted in Waco by the Harp Design Co. exclusively for the Legacy Collection.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 19,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.