Longhorn Lights bring Holiday Spirit to Campus

By Abby Chapman

Reporting Texas

Orange and white lights illuminate Guadalupe Street in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 19, 2024. (Abby Chapman/Reporting Texas TV)

Bright orange and white lights flash in sync to songs like “Jingle Bells” and “Wabash Cannonball” The University of Texas campus will stay bright for the holidays. 

The annual “Longhorn Lights” display kicked off on Nov. 9 with an elaborate show that included the Longhorn Band, UT Mariachi, President Jay Hartzell, and star quarterback Quinn Ewers. Longhorn mascot Bevo showed up too as President Hartzell pulled the lever to trigger the lights. 

This year’s display is larger than ever, with highlights like the oversized Texas sign and the glowing “Bright Bevo” installation along Guadalupe Street. 

The nine miles of lights wrap around the large heritage oak trees on the University of Texas campus, stretching along Guadalupe Street from 21st to 24th Street. 

“It’s 400,000 lights put up over 24 trees,” said Laurel O’Connor, Director of Communications for University Events. 

University Events, who planned the “Longhorn Lights” last year, worked with campus arborists to make sure the oak trees would be protected. 

“To ensure that the different mechanisms and methods that are used to adhere the lights to the trees are not going to damage the trees,” said O’Connor. 

UT started putting the lights up a month before the event. Testing the lights to ensure that nothing would go wrong during the big kickoff event. 

The lights bring a little joy for students during the toughest part of the semester: finals week. For some students it was their first time seeing the “Longhorn Lights.” 

“It’s like a little distraction here,” said UT freshman Natalie Valdez.  

Not only are the lights for students and faculty, it is a place for the greater Austin community to experience the colorful light show. 

“I think one thing we strive for is to make sure the Longhorn Lights feels inclusive to everybody, that it’s free to visit as many times as you want,” said O’Connor. 

The light display lasts from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. every night until Jan. 1.