Campus begins to look like Christmas with the arrival of 30-foot tree

Kim Chaudoin | 11/19/2012

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas on the Lipscomb campus.

A 30-foot cedar tree arrived in front of Allen Arena Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 19, in preparation for this year's Lighting of the Green. The tree was donated by Bill and Neika Stephens from their Steveway Farm near Nashville.

Moving a 30-foot tree to campus is not an easy task. Lipscomb alum Ryan Ezell, owner of Lebanon Kubota, donated his time and equipment to move the tree from the farm to the campus. Don Kennedy Roofing Inc. contributed to the task by donating the use of a crane to help hoist the tree onto the trust for delivery and to help get it in the ground once it arrived on campus.

The tree will be the centerpiece of the Allen Arena Mall, which is the site of the annual Lighting of the Green, which officially kicks-off the holiday season on the Lipscomb campus. This year's event is set for Tuesday, Nov. 27.

Nashville’s own Amy Grant hosts the free outdoor holiday concert. This year’s performance will also feature contemporary Christian artist Ashley Cleveland; Mandisa, of American Idol fame; The Martins, Christian music vocal trio; L’Angelus, a Cajun inspired band; Scat Springs, founder of the Scat Band and classic rhythm and blues singer; Michelle Swift, contemporary Christian singer; and the Lipscomb student choruses.

Festivities begin at 4 p.m. and the concert begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Allen Arena Mall on the Lipscomb campus. Free photos with Santa are available. Food is also available for purchase at the Bennett Campus Center’s Chick-Fil-A, Papa John’s Pizza, Blue Coast Burrito, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Zebi’s and Starbucks.

This year’s Lighting of the Green will introduce the first annual online Christmas auction, featuring dozens of exciting and unique items. All proceeds benefit Lipscomb scholarships. Visit www.LipscombChristmas-auction.com for more details. The event will also include Merry Marketplace, a collection of holiday vendors with a portion of the purchases benefiting scholarships to Lipscomb. The Marketplace will take place in the Allen Arena lobby and concourse beginning at 4 p.m.

The evening will conclude with the lighting of the 33-foot tall Christmas tree in the Allen Arena Mall. This year’s honorary tree lighter is Mary Hance, known to Nashvillians as the beloved “Ms. Cheap” of the Tennessean. Hance leads the annual Ms. Cheap Penny Drive for Second Harvest.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a gift of canned food or cash for the Second Harvest Food Bank. Guests are also encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to the concert. Handicapped parking will be available in the Allen Arena parking garage.

Sponsors for this year’s event include C.O. Christian & Sons, Bacon Construction, Glover Group Entertainment, Herring Technology and Stites and Harbison.

The event will be held rain or shine. For more information call 615.966.6609.