![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/files\/2018\/12\/TreeLighting2-copy-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Bailey Thompson<\/strong> | News Editor<\/span><\/p>\n Gathering together despite a cold and rainy evening, a crowd eagerly anticipated the 51<\/span>st <\/span>Annual Tree Lighting \u2014 a Western campus and community tradition that ushers in the holiday season. Decked with colored lights and a star on top, the Giant Sequoia was set to light up after a parade of student groups and local businesses had made its way down Main Street and Monmouth Avenue.<\/span><\/p>\n Some of the businesses and organizations who participated in this year\u2019s parade included Monmouth Police and Campus Public Safety, Western\u2019s Greek organizations, the 2018 Homecoming Royalty, local elementary schools, WOU Drumline, WOU Dance Team, Polk County Fire District and many more.<\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, just down the road, \u201cWine, Warmth and Music at the Historic Gentle House\u201d was a free event that featured a variety of holiday food, wine tasting for those 21 or over, live music, free portraits and cookie decorating.<\/span><\/p>\n When reflecting on her years attending the Holiday Tree Lighting, senior education major Natalie Sassaman shared that she appreciated sense of unity that the event offered.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMy favorite aspect of the Monmouth tree lighting is the community from Monmouth, Independence, and (Western) coming together to celebrate an incredible tradition,\u201d said Sassaman. \u201cEven with cold rain, everyone was able to come together to enjoy watching the parade and tree light up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Similarly, Erin Roan, another senior education major, valued the fact that this event \u2014 which occurs between Week 10 and Finals Week \u2014 gives students the chance to slow down and focus on positive things in the midst of a hectic time.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI loved going to the tree lighting for the fourth year in a row because it\u2019s such a great time to see the WOU community come together in the middle of a busy, stressful time,\u201d said Roan.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/files\/2018\/12\/TreeLit-copy-669x1024.jpg\")
After the parade and tree lighting, spectators were invited to participate in a number of events that were held in the Werner University Center. Upstairs, students and families had the opportunity to meet Santa Claus, witness the cookie baking and tree decorating competitions, color a variety of holiday pictures and visit an informational display that provided information about the numerous holidays that are celebrated by different cultures around this time of year. Moving downstairs, attendees could hear the music of a local school choir concert that was open to the whole community.<\/span><\/p>\n