A student walks by the holiday lights display at Scobee the evening of Nov. 29. The display consists of blue LEDs and this is the first year Scobee has been lighted for the holidays. Photo by Alison Graef
Holiday light display and festivities debut at Scobee; seasonal shows begin Friday.
By Nicole Bautista
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
With the holidays around the corner, Scobee Education Center will be celebrating with an array of festivities this month.
For the first time since it opened in 2014, Scobee will light up the holiday season.
Blue-and-white LED lights strung across the center will bestow an “icy blue lighting, making it kind of tranquil in appearance,” said Rick Varner, Scobee director.
The lights were installed Nov. 27 and will brighten the center through Jan. 15.
Guests attending the planetarium programming Dec. 2, 9 and 16 will arrive to a “winter wonderland kind of feel,” Varner said.
The planetarium will present “Season of Light” on the first three Fridays of December at 6:30 p.m. The family-friendly presentation has no age restrictions. The schedule will continue with “Mystery of the Christmas Star” at 7:30 p.m. and an encore of “Season of Light” at 9 p.m. The latter shows will be ages 6 and over.
The planetarium programming ticket prices will remain the same. Tickets per show are $4 for children ages 4-17 and $5 for adults ages 18 and over. Discounts are available: $2 for Alamo College students with ID and $4 for military with ID and for seniors 65 and over.
In addition to the lighting, Scobee will be adorned with snow, a brass ensemble and Santa Dec. 9.
Jeff Hunt, theater and communications chair, has arranged performances by members of the fine art department.
“We always like to give our clubs within the department fundraiser and performance opportunities for the holidays,” Hunt said.
Santa will make an appearance 6-9 p.m. Dec. 9. Pictures with Santa will be available for $5, presented by the Theater Club.
This college’s brass ensemble band will perform 6-9 p.m. Dec. 9 in Scobee.
Starting Dec. 9, snow will be falling at Scobee. The center purchased a snow machine, an ample supply of the fluids to create the snow and a remote control for $4,900.
It will be perched on the roof blowing snow-like evaporative foam down on show-goers.
Varner said the external lighting was driven by the vision of President Robert Vela.
“With the planetarium, he wants to see it play a bigger role in the holidays. He wants people to associate coming here during the Christmas holidays with the whole Christmas and holiday atmosphere,” Varner said.
For more information about the holiday shows, visit http://www.alamo.edu/sac/scobee-planetarium/.
