6th annual Lights of Esperanza features holiday campus lighting, “The Polar Express” movie, and a laser light show
Texas A&M University-San Antonio will host its annual community Lights of Esperanza celebration starting at 6 p.m., Tuesday, November 30. The family event includes the festive lighting of the campus and features food trucks, snow activities, music and performances, a laser light show, and “The Polar Express.”
Now in its sixth year, Lights of Esperanza is an enchanting annual celebration combining the symbolic history of holiday lighting of the campus with newer holiday traditions with an A&M-San Antonio flare. The event—free and open to the community—also includes a snow maze, petting zoo, and photos with General Claus, the Grinch, Mickey Mouse, and Mr. Monopoly.
More than 30,000 lights will illuminate campus buildings and landscaping, transforming the campus into a winter wonderland. Each year the event has grown and annually attracts thousands of community members from across the county and city to join the campus in kicking off the holiday season.
This year’s event coincides with the A&M-San Antonio Foundation’s “Giving Tuesday,” a daylong event to support scholarships and the General’s Store Food Pantry—both essential needs of our campus community. About 98 percent of students receive financial aid support, and the General’s Store provides hundreds of pounds of food to students, families, and our surrounding community each week. Gifts can be made at tamusa.edu/make-a-gift.
Event Schedule:
6:00 p.m. Opening remarks by Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, University President
6:15 p.m. Lighting of Campus
6:15–8 p.m. Activities Open:
· Polar Golf, Snow Maze, Curling, and Petting Zoo
· Inflatable Photo Snow Farm
· Pictures with General Clause, The Grinch, Mickey Mouse, and Mr. Monopoly
· Lady Picoza & Maniacs Food Trucks, Cultura Coffeehouse, GJ’s Chicken & Sausage on a Stick, and Chartwells
· Performances by River City Ringers, University Voices, McCollum HS Mariachi, and Teresa Champion Dance Academy
7:00 p.m. “The Polar Express” movie—Main Auditorium
7:55 p.m. Laser light show display—CAB Courtyard
8:00 p.m. Lights of Esperanza concludes
About Texas A&M University-San Antonio
Established as a stand-alone university in 2009, Texas A&M University-San Antonio is a comprehensive four-year public university that reflects the culturally diverse, heritage-rich community it serves. Situated on nearly 700 acres in south San Antonio, the University offers 33 undergraduate degrees and 16 graduate degrees to nearly 7,000 students. A&M-San Antonio is home to the Henry G. Cisneros Institute for Emerging Leaders and the Cyber Engineering Technology/Cyber Security Research Center. The University holds the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation and is one of only 24 higher education institutions in the U.S. to have received the Seal of Excelencia certification from Excelencia in Education for its support of Latino student success. More than 75 percent of A&M-SA students identify as Hispanic, and 73 percent are the first in their family to attend college. A&M-San Antonio is a military-embracing institution; in 2020, Military Times ranked the University No. 35 in the nation for “Best for Vets: Colleges.” Visit tamusa.edu for more information. #onamission
