Amy Grant to kick-off holiday season with annual Lighting of the Green Nov. 27
Anica Gilbert |
For more than a decade the Lipscomb University community has celebrated the start of the holiday season with beloved Nashville entertainer Amy Grant and friends at the annual Lighting of the Green concert. This year’s edition is set for Tuesday, Nov. 27, at Lipscomb University.
Joining Grant this year for the 14th annual Lighting of the Green will be contemporary Christian artist TaRanda Greene among other surprise musical guests. Greene has recorded seven studio albums including her latest, “Healing,” released earlier this year. She has been a featured guest soloist with the famed Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and has performed throughout the world from Europe to Carnegie Hall. Greene performs both as a soloist and a member of the award-winning Christian Music group, Cana's Voice.
Also featured will be choirs from Lipscomb Academy and Lipscomb University.
The festivities will begin at 4 p.m. with the FREE concert to follow at 5:30. Food will be available for purchase at Chick Fil A, Blue Coast Burrito, Creekstone Burgers, Papa John’s Pizza, or Starbucks, and the Bison Cafe, all located in the Bennet Campus Center. Allen Arena’s concession stands will be open, as well as Au Bon Pain in the Student Activities Center. In the event of inclement weather, activities will take place as scheduled inside Lipscomb’s Allen Arena.
Merry Marketplace, a collection of holiday vendors who donate a portion of their proceeds to benefit Associated Women for Lipscomb scholarships to Lipscomb, is also a traditional feature of Lighting of the Green festivities. The Marketplace will take place in McQuiddy Gym beginning at 4 p.m. FREE pictures with Santa beginning at 4:30 p.m.
The evening will conclude with the lighting of a Christmas tree in the Allen Arena Mall.
Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to the concert. Handicap parking will be available in the Allen Arena parking garage. The event will be held rain or shine.
Each year thousands of people turn out to see Grant host the free outdoor holiday concert featuring the Lipscomb student choruses along with Grant’s musical friends. Through the past decade, the holiday concert has featured a number of popular entertainers including Michael W. Smith, Jordan Smith, Brenda Lee, Stephen Curtis Chapman, Lennon & Maisy from the hit ABC show “Nashville,” Vince Gill, Danny Gokey, Nicole C. Mullen, Mandisa, Melinda Doolittle, Point of Grace, the Fisk Jubliee Singers, Buddy Greene, Ruth McGinnis, Cody Fry, Jon and Valerie Guerra, Dave’s Highway and the Annie Moses Band.
Grant has been called “The Queen of Christian Pop.” She is the first Christian singer to have a platinum record and has become a successful crossover artist. Amy Grant is now a household name and her talent appeals to all audiences. She has been awarded six Grammys and numerous Dove Awards, six platinum albums and four gold albums. 10 of her songs have made it into the Top 40 pop singles and she has many hits on contemporary Christian charts.
“Lighting of the Green has become a beloved tradition in Nashville, and we couldn’t have made that happen without the support and generosity of Amy Grant, who gives of her time and talent to perform and to schedule an exciting slate of artists each year,” said Walt Leaver, vice president for university relations.
Want to know more? Visit lightingofthegreen.lipscomb.edu.
—Photos by Kristi Jones