Light up the Night: Seventh Annual Year-end CAMPUS FESTIVAL
To celebrate the end of class, MSU Campus Events, the McMaster University Alumni Association and the McMaster Students Union, along with numerous campus partners, including the Student Success Centre and The Campus Store have partnered to create a truly awesome experience. We will Light Up the Night with thousands of bulbs strung between campus buildings and trees, with loads of free fun and excitement!
The seventh annual year-end campus festival will feature a Ferris wheel, carnival games, food trucks, a drone show, live music, as well as some free food give-a-ways. After taking in the view from the Ferris wheel, stroll the street playing the carnival games, challenge yourself in the mobile escape room, then watch fire performers and stilt walkers walking around the venue. If the food trucks aren’t your style, chill with friends while getting some some free snacks in Cafe Chill Zone. In addition, Light Up the Night will feature musical performances and the Red Bull DJ Truck. When the last classes of 2024 end at 10pm, look to the sky above BSB field for a drone show! After the drone show, a laser show will begin next to the main stage.
If you start to feel a little overwhelmed or need support throughout the night, head inside the doors of MUSC to the Peer Support area. Student services including WGEN, SHEC and EFRT will be on-hand and SWHAT will operate until 1pm for walk-home support. Further, professional staff from McMaster’s Sexual Violence Prevention and Response office will also be available to assist you if required.
This is a free event, no registration is required! All McMaster students & alumni are welcome, along with anyone in the extended McMaster community. Please note, a McMaster University student card will be required for access to the rides and the free food inside the Cafe Chill Zone.
Light Up the Night won a prestigious Canadian Event Industry award in 2016 and was a finalist for a the same honour in 2017.
WHEN?
APRIL 10, 2024
6 PM - 11 PM
WHERE?
McMASTER UNIVERSITY
SCHOLARS RD., between MUSC and Mary Keyes
WHAT TO EXPECT?
FERRIS WHEEL
CARNIVAL GAMES
FOOD TRUCKS
MUSIC
DRONE SHOW
RED BULL DJ TRUCK
LASER SHOW
CAFE CHILL ZONE
BOARD GAMES in MUSC
BUSKERS
PHOTO BOOTHS
FIRE PERFORMERS
ESCAPE ROOM
GLOW MINI PUTT
MAPS & LOCATION DETAILS
HAVE A LOOK AT THE LAYOUT FOR THE NIGHT & HOW TO GET AROUND
Light Up the Night is big. The event will span Scholars Rd. from the Student Centre all the way to Mary Keyes, with The event will feature more than 4000 feet of rope lighting, over 2000 light bulbs, three rides, carnival games, glow parties, live musical performances, three photo booths, board games, a chill zone, food trucks and a drone show! To help get you familiar with the set-up and event locations, please consult the map below:
Live Music, Ferris Wheel & Carnival Games, Food Trucks & Glow Fun all part of LIGHT UP THE NIGHT
Light Up the Night isn't your typical event, and the evening has been planned with a diverse range of students in mind. Interested in music? We've got you covered with live musical performances, plus a DJ on the main stage, as well as music inside the Glow Party area.
Rides and games more your thing? Then challenge your friends to any of the many carnival games as you walk the grounds or play a round of your favourite board game in MUSC. Enjoy some glow-in-the-dark mini putt, or take in the the view of a lit up campus from atop the Ferris wheel. Regardless of your preference, Light Up the Night promises to be a blast.
As you travel up and down Scholars Rd on April 10, you’ll be joined by an array of buskers, fire performers, and stilt walkers. Find the mobile escape room or visit carnival game trailers to test your skills. Be sure to look up just after 10pm for the drone show that will take place above BSB field! Photo-booths and photo ops will be sprinkled throughout Light Up the Night.
BOARD GAMES IN MUSC
TAKE A BREAK FROM THE LIGHTS & SETTLE IN FOR SOME OLD FASHIONED FUN
While carnival games are fun, some of the best times a group can have are while bonding over board games. Featuring everything from Monopoly to Catan, the McMaster Board Game Society will be hosting a games night in the MUSC Atrium from 8-11 PM. Feel free to drop-in and mingle as you please, and don't hesitate to bring your own games to throw into the mix. Team leaders will be stationed at each table helping manage and coordinate each game - so don't be afraid to try something new.
GLOW-IN-THE-DARK MINI PUTT
STEP UP TO THE TEE AND LIGHT UP THE NIGHT
Between the music, Ferris Wheel, food, and fun during #MacFest, you may want to take a time-out of the main street party and play a casual game of mini putt. Hosted by the Student Success Centre, LED mini putt will take place between Hamilton Hall and University Hall, adjacent to the Senator McMaster statue.
Carnival Games
Test your skills with loADS of carnival games
NEW THIS YEAR! Light Up the Night is greatly expanding its assortment of carnival games. Visit the various games trailers throughout the event, but be sure to visit the expanded games area located near the front of Mary Keyes / Matthews. Challenge your friends and test your skills!
TRANSIT & PARKING
If you are using public transit to reach McMaster, there are options via the HSR, GO Transit, and Hamilton Bike Share.
HSR Bus Routes
HSR routes are scheduled to run towards campus every 15 minutes during Light Up the Night, and fare is free with a valid McMaster University Student Card and HSR student bus pass. Real-time HSR schedules can be found online through the City of Hamilton website, and route specific information can be found below.
If you are traveling west towards McMaster (away from the downtown core), the number 5 and 10 bus routes all stop at the University at Main & Emerson. Additionally, the 5C and 51 bus routes take passengers directly onto the University campus, stopping at Sterling at University.
If traveling east towards McMaster (away from Dundas), the number 5 bus route stops near the University at Main and Leland, and a short walk will take you directly onto campus.
GO Transit Routes
If you are coming from outside Hamilton, but you don't care to drive, there is a GO Transit bus terminal just steps from all the Light Up the Night action. Visit GO Transit's trip planner site to plot your route from Square One or York University to "McMaster U Bus Terminal". You can also take the QEW Express from Toronto to the Hunter St. GO Station in downtown Hamilton, and connect to McMaster via the HSR.
In addition, if you take the GO train to Aldershot, you can pick up the Route 15A service that travels to and from McMaster University. The last bus heading back to Aldershot station leaves campus at 11:o3pm. In addition, the Route 47 (Hwy 407) bus also departs directly from the McMaster transit hub, with the last bus leaving campus at 10:47pm. Finally, the Route 16 (QEW express), will offer service until 12:30am, departing from the downtown Hamilton GO Centre.
Hamilton Bike Share
Hamilton's bike share program has eight racks on campus. If you don't already have a bike and simply want to take a quick spin to campus, think about using Hamilton Bike Share to get to Light Up the Night.
Parking and Shuttle Bus Service
If you are parking in lots M, N or P - Parking Services has extended shuttle bus service until midnight on April 12.
Light up the Night is brought to you by the McMaster University Alumni Association and the McMaster Students Union, through MSU Campus Events in partnership with the Student Success Centre and Housing and Conference Services. In addition, Light up the Night would not be possible without the financial support provide by:
