West Texas A&M University flipped the switch on nearly 200,000 twinkling lights during its annual Festival of Lights on Dec. 3, drawing students, families and Canyon residents to campus to kick off the Christmas season.

According to WT officials, almost 200,000 bulbs illuminate campus — a 150 percent increase over the past four years — wrapped around trees and shrubbery from 26th Avenue to the Pedestrian Mall. The towering American elms, the Freedom Tree and the Staff Memorial Tree are illuminated, along with new color-changing lights on the Pedestrian Mall and the north side of Old Main. Color-changing Edison bulbs glow around the “Original Texans” buffalo sculpture and fountain.

The evening featured music, appearances by Bucky the WT mascot and Santa Claus, and cookies, hot chocolate a

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