Anyone who knows High Point University President Dr. Nido Qubein knows that, whenever he does something, he goes all in.

He goes big.

That’s the case even when it comes to Christmas because right now the university has the state’s tallest Christmas tree as well as an abundance of other Christmas decorations that are drawing people to the campus from all around.

People are coming to participate in the school’s “Christmas Drive,” a seasonal event when visitors drive through the campus and see the sights. The drive is free and will run each night from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. through Sunday, Jan. 1.

During the first night of this year’s Christmas Drive, the university welcomed nearly 1,500 people. Before it’s all said and done at the first of the year, the school is expecting more than 30,000 to come to see the sights.

While passing through campus, families will see more than 100,000 Christmas lights, a life-size Nativity scene with “more animals and shepherds than ever,” 235 nutcrackers, ornaments that are 10 feet tall and other holiday decorations.

In the movie Christmas Vacation, starring Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold, Griswold only used 25,000 Christmas lights on his house – meaning that HPU’s display is at least four times grander.

Qubein said the drive helps bring people together.

“Every year, we look forward to welcoming thousands of families and friends to our campus for the Christmas Drive,” the HPU president said this week. “This is one of many ways we celebrate the Christmas season and bring people together for joy and fellowship.”

Guests can enter campus at the University Parkway entrance and exit at Panther Drive onto Lexington Avenue by the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center.  As they enter, they’ll see the state’s tallest Christmas tree at 70 feet high on the Roberts Hall lawn.

If that’s not Christmassy enough for you, there’s another tree that stands 64 feet tall by the Qubein Arena.

Other school officials are excited about the drive as well.

“High Point University is High Point’s university, and we welcome community members to many events throughout the year, including during the Christmas season,” said Lyndsey Ayers, the assistant vice president for university relations. “We are very excited to welcome community members to our campus to see the thousands of lights and life-size displays.”

At the end of the route on the first night of the drive, families received a gift bag that included a book about HPU’s phenomenal transformation over the years, a coloring book and crayons for children, an HPU Christmas card and HPU basketball game information.

 

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