WILSON, N.C. — November 12, 2025 — As the holiday season draws near, Barton College invites the Wilson community to gather on campus for one of the year’s most cherished traditions. As dusk settles, the glow of 2,500 luminaries will trace the walkways, filling the heart of campus with warmth and light as voices rise in song to welcome the joy of the season.
To begin the celebration, AVI Fresh will host a special holiday dinner with all the trimmings in the Culinary Center on the upper level of Hamlin Student Center prior to the program on center campus. The cost is $10 per person, plus tax, for community members who would like to join Barton students for dinner. The Culinary Center will open at 4:30 p.m.
The Blessing and Lighting of the Christmas Tree will take place at 6 p.m. on the Aileen and Bill Parish Plaza, followed by “An Evening of Lessons and Carols” at 6:30 p.m. in Howard Chapel. Both programs are free and open to the public, and families of all ages are encouraged to attend.
Chaplain Alysun Skinner and Barton College President Douglas N. Searcy will offer brief remarks during the outdoor program before the lighting ceremony. The Barton College Choir, under the direction of Susan Perry, director of choir, will lead the Lessons and Carols service, blending familiar carols and scripture readings that celebrate the hope and joy of the season.
For many in Wilson and at Barton, the Lighting of the Luminaries marks the true beginning of the holiday season, offering a moment to pause together in gratitude, to listen, and to share in the wonder that fills the campus each December. Children are especially welcome to experience the magic of the night as the College glows with thousands of tiny lights.
For additional information about the Blessing and Lighting of the Christmas Tree or “An Evening of Lessons and Carols,” contact Chaplain Alysun Skinner at [email protected] or 252-399-6372, or Susan Perry at [email protected] or 252-399-6492.
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