Christmas on 5th Street Fills Baylor Students, Community with Holiday Cheer

November 24, 2009

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Student Activities and the Division of Student Life will host Baylor University's annual "Christmas on 5th Street" Thursday, Dec. 3, with a wide variety of entertainment and activities in the Bill Daniel Student Center (SUB) and Burleson Quadrangle on the Baylor campus. All events are free and open to the public.
The holiday celebration will feature Kappa Omega Tau's 44th annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and concert. The Kappa Pickers will begin the concert at 6 p.m. Jillian Edwards will perform at 6:30 p.m., followed by a reading of the Christmas Story and the Tree Lighting at 7:15 p.m. Ben Rector will take the stage at 7:45 p.m., followed by Jon McLaughlin, who will perform at 8:45 p.m.
This year's concert will benefit The Mocha Club, an organization that works to fund relief and development projects in Africa.
KOT Christmas Tree Lighting committee member Taylor Laymance expressed the group's desire to make the focus about helping others. "Last year we were able to raise $20,000 for Shaohannah's Hope and we aspire to attain our donation goal of $20,000 for the Mocha Club this year," Laymance said.
The Baylor Religious Hour Choir (BRH) will host the Family Christmas Concert featuring Meredith Andrews. BRH will open for Andrews at 6:30 p.m. in Barfield Drawing Room in the SUB. Andrews will take the stage at 7 p.m. Free coffee, hot chocolate and desserts will be served.

"It's a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the Christmas season and forget all the things that tend to occupy so much of our time," said Michael Riemer, associate director of student activities at Baylor. "My favorite part of the evening is seeing people create memories, laugh, take pictures and fellowship."

The community is invited to shop for unique, handmade items at the Christmas on 5th Street Marketplace. The Marketplace will host more than 30 vendors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and reopen from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3.
Multiple family activities also will be held throughout the night, including:

? Live Nativity in the front lawn of the SUB from 6 to 9 p.m.

? Petting Zoo and Pony Rides in the Vara Martin Daniels Plaza from 6 to 9 p.m.

? Carriage Rides on 5th Street until 10 p.m.

? Pictures with Santa on the second floor of the SUB in the Baines and Fentress rooms until 9 p.m.

? Kid's Creation Station in the food court on the first floor of the SUB until 9 p.m.

? Columbus Avenue Baptist Church Handbell Choir in the Vara Martin Daniel Plaza until 9 p.m.
? Free hot cocoa, coffee and cider
T-shirts for Christmas Tree Lighting can be purchased in the lobbies of the SUB, Collins, Memorial and Penland Residence Halls.
For more information about Christmas on 5th Street, contact Student Activities at (254) 710-2371.
by Lillyan Baker, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805