The annual Festival of Lights returned on Saturday December 7 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Beginning in 2022, JC held this holiday celebration for its third year in a row with the Harford County community lining up at its doors.
With a over 2000 people registering to attend the free event and 160 student volunteers, the festival welcomed all to view the decorated hallways and light displays.
Advisories began decorating on December 2 with an extended 40-minute advisory, and they had an additional day on December 4 to prepare decorations throughout the hallways.
On December 6, decorated advisories and trees from various clubs were completed. Trees were left in the Learning Commons.
Assistant Principal Jake Hollin explained, “Having everyone participate gives us a chance to show the community all the different groups and the ways to get involved here at JC. It really is beautiful that our advisories do so much decorating.”
Groups such as the Student Government Association, National Honor Society, the dance program, Peer Ministry, the baseball team, and PTA all contributed to the special evening.
SGA Co-Moderator Anthony Davidson commented, “SGA was in charge of overall volunteer coordination, painting the windows in the cafe, providing shirts that volunteers wore, and constructing the train garden. We are a large supporter of this event, and it is the SGA’s biggest service event to the community.”
A a new interactive station called “Frosty’s Fast Pitch” was added this year. This station had kids throwing little snowballs in an attempt to get it through a hole on the target to win a prize. The baseball team and Coach Siler were instrumental in the success of this station.
Senior Nic Stockson, a baseball team volunteer, said, “I liked it because I think it was an interactive station where kids could just have fun. I like that it brought a lot of joy to their faces.”
Dr. Davidson also said that lighting was added in the front halls and outside the building “to increase the illumination of the campus.”
NHS members hosted “Whoville” on the third floor where visitors could get their faces painted and have pictures taken with the Grinch.
On the second floor, the PTA hosted “Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen” where young guests decorated their own Christmas cookies and enjoyed them throughout the night.
While in the Learning Commons, a Winter Wonderland was created with handmade gingerbread houses and decorations by Architecture Club students.
There were also attractions like Photos with Santa, the Polar Express train, a train garden, and a blow-up slide located in the Upper Gym.
Mr. Hollin said, “There is so much to see and do at Festival of Lights. I think it really depends on what you want to see. Some people tell me they try to come back and do some of the same things every year and then something new every year. A lot of people just like walking through the hallways to see all the different amazing door decorations. It just feels like there is something for everyone which is what we hope for each year.”
Although Santa has always been part of such a festive night, Santa himself was former Facilities Manager Joe McGrain.
“I love everybody here, I love seeing all the students again, and the staff that I’m friends with, so it’s been so much fun for me to be here tonight,” Mr. McGrain explained.
Since retiring from JC last year shortly after the Festival of Lights, Mr. McGrain has been driving a school bus for special needs children through Harford Academy.
“We loved having Mr. McGrain join us as he was a much-loved member of our community and is really missed. When he was retiring, he said he would love to help out anyway he can [this] year,” Mr. Hollin added.
Vocal music students served as carolers while others sang Christmas songs in the chapel. Joining that group in the chapel this year were the peer ministers who performed the Living Nativity. They moved inside this year due to cold temperatures.
