This North Carolina University Has A Jaw Dropping 70 Foot Christmas Tree Claimed To Be The Tallest In The State
Seventy feet of Christmas tree on a college campus is enough to make me question whether anyone here believes in decorating modestly.
The tree is billed as the tallest in North Carolina, and somehow it is only the beginning.
More than 100,000 lights spread across the grounds, while hundreds of giant nutcrackers add a wonderfully ridiculous amount of holiday personality.
I like that families can take it all in without leaving the warmth of the car.
The radio fills with Christmas music performed by students and faculty as the route winds through campus.
For eight nights, the whole place becomes a glowing December drive.
Admission is free, and the schedule even reaches Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
For me, the real test is seeing whether that 70-foot tree looks even bigger from the driver’s seat.
Crane Your Neck, Because This Tree Goes Way Up
Seventy feet of twinkling Christmas spirit sits at the center of the holiday fun at High Point University. That height is claimed to make it the tallest Christmas tree in North Carolina.
For a sense of scale, a typical house is about 25 to 30 feet tall. This tree could peek over two of them with room to spare.
It also has a big sibling of sorts. Another tree near the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center stands 58 feet tall.
Two giant trees on one campus feel a little like showing off. Honestly, during the holidays, a little showing off is welcome.
The tree anchors the university’s annual Christmas Drive, a free event open to the public. Families, friends, and curious neighbors all get the same front-row view.
My advice is simple. Bring a phone with plenty of storage, because one photo won’t cover it.
Kids especially tend to love anything that feels larger than life. A tree this size gives them a story to tell at school for weeks.
Better yet, you can admire it without stepping into the cold. More on that clever setup in a moment.
Turn The Dial To 89.7 For A Student-Made Soundtrack
Your car radio becomes part of the magic here. During the drive, visitors can tune to 89.7 FM for Christmas carols.
The best part is who’s singing. The carols are performed by High Point University students and faculty.
That gives the whole experience a homegrown feel. It’s like the campus is personally serenading you as you roll by.
Families can turn it into a game. Guess the next song, or see who can sing along without missing a word.
I believe music changes how lights feel. A quiet drive is pretty, but a drive with carols feels like a celebration.
Remember to set the station before you reach the entrance. Fumbling with buttons while admiring a 70-foot tree is a tricky combo.
Drivers should keep eyes forward, of course. Let passengers handle the volume and the singing.
If your car has an older radio, it’ll still work fine. FM doesn’t care how fancy your dashboard is.
It’s a small detail, but it shows real thought. Somebody wanted your ears to have as much fun as your eyes.
You’ll find the campus at 1 N University Pkwy, High Point, NC 27262. It sits in North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad region.
Stay Cozy Because The Whole Show Happens From Your Car
Heated seats and holiday lights are a winning team. The Christmas Drive lets you take in the entire campus display without leaving your vehicle.
Guests enter at the North University Parkway entrance. The route winds through campus and exits at Panther Drive onto Lexington Avenue, beside the Qubein Arena.
That one-way path keeps things simple. You just follow along and soak it all in.
The event runs nightly from Saturday, December 19, through Saturday, December 26. Hours are 5:30 to 8:30 in the evening.
Here’s a sweet surprise. The drive stays open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day too.
That makes it a great after-dinner outing when the presents are opened and everyone’s a bit sleepy. Pile in, buckle up, and let the lights do the work.
A few tips help. Have snacks ready for little ones and a full tank of gas.
Also, keep the windows clean for better photos. Smudged glass and twinkle lights don’t mix well.
Since it’s free, you can even come back on another night. Nobody will judge a second lap.
Count The Nutcrackers If You Dare
Over 230 giant nutcrackers line the route, and that’s not a typo. They stand tall like toy soldiers welcoming every car.
Around them, the decorations keep stacking up. You’ll spot large wreaths, garland, and ornaments that stand 10 feet tall.
Picture an ornament taller than a basketball hoop. That’s the scale this campus loves to play with.
All of it glows under more than 100,000 Christmas lights. The campus basically turns into one enormous holiday card.
Here’s a fun challenge for kids. Have them count nutcrackers out the window and see who gets closest to the real number.
Spoiler alert, nobody will get it exactly right. That’s half the fun.
Photographers should look for spots where nutcrackers line up in rows. Those repeating shapes make for striking pictures.
The decorations feel classic rather than trendy. Think storybook Christmas, not neon disco.
That old-fashioned style suits the brick buildings well. Everything looks like it belongs together, which makes the whole display feel polished and warm.
A Life-Size Nativity Brings A Quieter Moment
Among the sparkle and the nutcrackers, one scene slows things down. The Christmas Drive includes a life-size Nativity.
In some years, it has featured extra animals and shepherds. That adds even more detail for little eyes to discover.
The Nativity fits the university’s character. High Point University is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.
Faith plays a visible role in campus life. The school embraces a motto of God, family, and country.
So the Nativity isn’t just decoration here. It reflects what the university openly values.
For families who celebrate the religious side of Christmas, this stop matters. It’s a chance to share the story with kids in a memorable way.
Even for others, the scene offers a calm pause. After so much glitter, a gentle moment feels nice.
Consider slowing down here if traffic allows. Little ones may want to point out each animal.
It’s a reminder that big holiday displays can still feel meaningful. Size grabs attention, but this scene holds it.
Fountains, Flags, And Flowers Fill The Grounds Year-Round
Even without a single Christmas light, High Point University turns heads. The campus is famous for its spotless, carefully kept look.
Fountains pop up all over the grounds. Gardens and flowers seem to fill every spare corner.
Patriotism is on full display too. More than 140 American flags wave across campus.
The university has earned the Tree Campus Higher Education Award for 16 consecutive years. Fitting, since one of its trees is now famous for wearing lights.
Traditions reinforce those values. The university hosts a Veterans Day breakfast for over 1,000 veterans each year, plus a Community Prayer Breakfast.
Leading the way is Dr. Nido Qubein, president since 2005. He also teaches a First-Year Seminar on Life Skills.
The school calls itself The Premier Life Skills University. Its focus includes communication, adaptability, and hands-on learning.
Founded in 1924 as High Point College, it became High Point University in 1991. That’s a century of growth in one North Carolina city.
Knowing this background helps. The holiday display makes sense once you see how much care goes into everything else.
Gardens So Detailed One Is Shaped Like DNA
Science nerds and plant lovers, this one’s for you. A garden near the Wanek School of Natural Sciences and the Congdon School of Health Sciences is designed to resemble an atom, with a central raised bed representing its nucleus.
It belongs to something much bigger. The Mariana H. Qubein Arboretum and Botanical Gardens stretches across campus, with numerous distinct gardens and botanical collections.
The numbers are wild. The campus features more than 350 varieties of trees, with extensive botanical collections spread across its gardens.
That’s a lot of green for a college. Some city parks would be jealous.
During December, the gardens rest beneath the holiday glow. Come spring, they burst into color.
If the Christmas Drive hooks you, consider a daytime return trip. The campus is generally open to guests from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Visitors must present a valid photo ID at the entrance, where campus security provides a visitor pass. It’s a simple step to track guest time on campus.
Bring comfortable shoes for a daytime visit. With dozens of gardens spread across campus, you’ll cover some ground.
The DNA garden makes a clever photo stop. Few places let you stand inside a giant science lesson made of plants.
Dinner Doubles As A Lesson At These Fine-Dining Labs
Most college students learn table manners from fast food wrappers. At High Point University, they learn at fine-dining restaurants on campus.
Two spots, 1924 Prime and Alo, serve as learning labs. Students practice formal dining etiquette in real restaurant settings.
The name 1924 Prime nods to the school’s founding year. That’s a tidy bit of history on the sign.
Alo sits inside the Jana and Ken Kahn Hotel. This boutique hotel connects to the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center.
The hotel is also a learning lab. It offers 30 rooms plus meeting spaces.
Campus dining overall has earned high rankings for quality. Students have plenty of options beyond these upscale spots.
For visiting families, the hotel adds a neat option. Staying on campus keeps you close to everything, including that massive tree.
I like the idea behind these labs. Knowing which fork to grab is a real skill, and it helps in job interviews.
Where else does a fancy dinner count as homework?
Plan Your Trip To The Furniture Capital Of The World
High Point carries a fun nickname. It’s known as the Home Furnishings Capital of the World and hosts the famous High Point Market.
So the city knows a thing or two about decorating. The university’s Christmas display seems to prove it.
Greensboro and Winston-Salem are both nearby. That makes it an easy evening trip for many families.
A smart plan helps. Grab dinner in the area first, then join the drive after 5:30.
Arriving earlier in the evening may suit young kids. They’ll see the lights before bedtime grumbles start.
Thinking about college? Campus tours include a covered golf cart and a complimentary lunch.
Visitors can also meet admissions team members. Not a bad perk for a tour.
Whatever brings you here, December is a memorable time to come. A free light show, a 70-foot tree, and carols on the radio make a pretty great holiday plan.
