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Johns Hopkins UniversityEst. 1876

America’s First Research University
Two college students take a selfie in front of a row of trees wrapped in holiday lights.

Credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University

Lighting of the Quads

Homewood lights up for the holidays

Johns Hopkins University marks the beginning of the holiday season with its annual Lighting of the Quads, a treasured winter tradition featuring hot chocolate, live performances, and fireworks

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Published Dec 4, 2025

Johns Hopkins University's annual Lighting of the Quads returned for its 21st year on Wednesday, Dec. 3. The event, which was hosted on Wyman Quad, featured refreshments, activities, live performances, and a fireworks show.

The festivities were postponed one day due to weather, but this delay did nothing to stifle the event's winter cheer. With a flip of a switch and a round of applause, JHU President Ron Daniels lit up Homewood in twinkling lights, heralding the end of the fall semester and the beginning of the holiday season.