In 2005, Johns Hopkins University celebrated its first Lighting of the Quads, gathering hundreds of students, staff, faculty, and community members to watch as the Homewood campus turned on its holiday lights. The original organizers hoped that the celebration would become an annual tradition. Now, 20 years later, LOTQ has grown into a staple of the student experience that attracts thousands. Much like that first year, the event still brings attendees together for an evening of hot chocolate, musical performances, and fireworks, literally brightening campus life while offering students a reprieve from finals season.
This year's festivities are set for 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5.
But who organizes and sets up this celebration? According to lead organizer Charles Norman III, the university's interim senior director of Leadership Engagement and Experiential Development, the full list could take up several pages.
"If things are going right, we start planning around June or July," he says. "We first have to work with our great partners in Scheduling and Event Services because they reserve all the spaces that we need. And then we work with the grounds crew, we work with the electric shop, the Office of Sustainability to make sure that we have the proper recycling bins and trash cans, we work with custodial, Dining to do the food, and then we work with a bunch of different campus offices and departments to actually be the people who are in the booths that are engaging with students. I can tell you, for me personally, when those fireworks go off, it's a sigh of relief—because that means the event has gone well and everyone is happy, because everyone loves the fireworks."
In honor of Lighting of the Quads' 20th anniversary, Hub at Work is taking a look at some of the university staff who bring this tradition to life every December.
Who organizes the performances?
For JHU's 13 a cappella groups, performing at Lighting of the Quads is a highlight of the fall semester. But with a limited number of performance slots, it's up to Nicoleen Willson, director of the Office of Arts and Innovation, to decide which acts take the stage.
"I keep track of a rotation year after year so that everyone can have a chance," she says. "They all really enjoy it and do a good job, so my job is just making sure that it's done fairly."
Student a cappella groups have performed at every LOTQ for the past two decades, with three or four being chosen each year. The show also features the JHU Pep Band and the Entertainers Club, which lights up the quad with its signature fire dancing.
"I'm always really heartened," says Willson, who serves as a stage manager during the actual event. "When groups perform, there's thousands of students there listening and supporting and clapping. It's a warm place for those students to feel accepted."
Thursday's stage will look a little different than in past years. To avoid ongoing construction, LOTQ will move from Keyser Quad down the steps to Wyman Quad. But according to Willson, a change in location won't mean a change in traditions.
"The front of Shriver Hall also has a special place in a lot of people's hearts, so I think it'll be fun to see that as the backdrop," she says.
Who runs the booths?
The 20th annual LOTQ will feature booths from 19 offices. Over the years, certain tables have become as iconic as the lighting itself. For example, standing in line for a free LOTQ mug is a time-honored tradition among JHU students, many of whom immediately rush off to fill their souvenir with hot chocolate or cider.
Gay Williams, coordinator of membership and office manager at the O'Connor Recreation Center, has been running the facility's booth for the past eight years. As an LOTQ veteran, she knows all the tips for a perfect night: dress in layers, bring hand warmers, and eat a full dinner before feasting on any sugar.
Williams also knows how to make the perfect snow globe ornament—her booth's iconic activity.
"We get fake snow all over ourselves, but it's a lot of fun," she says.
In the weeks leading up to LOTQ, Williams and her student employees prep all the necessary materials. They buy the fake snow, cut the ribbons, and insert little blue jays into every globe. For the snow globe station's first year, Williams' team prepared enough supplies for 250 ornaments. They ran out within an hour. This year, they're bringing enough for 500 globes.
Image caption: A staff member hands out souvenir mugs at LOTQ 2023
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
But as great as arts and crafts are, Williams' favorite parts of LOTQ are the festive atmosphere and good company. To her, the night is a chance to see familiar faces from across the university celebrate something together.
"When all the campus partners and the students are out there, it's just thrilling," she says. "It's just like one big kumbaya moment."
Who creates the interactive DMC station?
If a student wants to create, it's Kim Do's job to help. As a multimedia specialist in the Digital Media Center, she spends her days guiding students as they use the university's filming equipment, animation software, and other creative resources.
Now, it's Do's turn to have her work on display.
"What I'm creating is an interactive piece for students to mess around with," she says. "We have a camera that students will be able to be in front of, and when they're moving, then the visuals will move along with them."
The project was made using TouchDesigner, a visual-based programming language for real-time multimedia content. Do also has rigged up one of the DMC's gaming consoles to the installation, meaning camera-shy students can still use joysticks and buttons to add to the display.
This isn't the DMC's first interactive station. Last year, the center collaborated with the Makerspace to build a light and sound organ that lit up as people played it.
Do has been working on this year's installation since early summer, just a few months after starting in her position. As a recent addition to the Johns Hopkins team, she's determined to make her first LOTQ memorable.
"Our main goal is to bring in students and have them be physically engaged with the piece," she says. "We want to make some fun, cool art."
Who makes the refreshments?
Pedro Duarte has only been Hopkins Dining's catering director for a few weeks, but he's no stranger to LOTQ. Thursday's festivities will be his third time organizing the event's refreshments. "This year, instead of wearing a chef coat like I had before, I'm wearing a dress shirt, but it's going to be the same," he says.
Image caption: Students help themselves to refreshments at LOTQ 2018
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
Duarte and his team are responsible for providing enough food and hot chocolate for 3,500 attendees. While most of the menu items will be favorites from previous years, not everything will be the same.
"We're using two tents this year," Duarte says. "Both tents are going to provide the goodies—the hot cocoa, the brownies, the cookies, the cake pops— but one of the tents we're going to turn it into an experience. Imagine a winter wonderland. Students are going to be able to walk through it and see lights and little inflatables, almost like a haunted house in Halloween but for Christmas."
Duarte's job won't be over on Dec. 6. After enjoying the student performances (his favorite part) and the fireworks, he'll get right to brainstorming the menu for Lighting of the Quads 2025.
"Once we're done with this, we're already planning the next year, seeing what worked, what didn't work, what we want to switch," he says. "I tell my team that it's always better to plan for something that is going to happen the next year when it just happened because everything is fresh in your mind. We have to stay way ahead."
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