The Christmas Tree Lighting has a new location on Metzger lawn and features an artificial tree this year today at 7 p.m.

The annual event was held outside of Crowell music hall in previous years. However, after last year’s tree was cut down due to decay, the location moved to Metzger lawn to allow more space for attendees. Furthermore, the artificial tree expects to save on future tree lighting costs.

Patricia Folgar, alumni and parent events coordinator, planned and prepared  this year’s lighting event.

“With anything, there’s always stress involved but its such a pleasure to go through the rollercoaster of this event,” Folgar said. “Honestly, this is one of our favorite events so we are really looking forward to it.”

Students on campus plan on attending the event in light of the new changes this year.

“I am totally looking forward to the [Christmas tree lighting] and planning on attending because it’s Christmas,” said Amanda Barber, junior intercultural studies major.

Students said they think that an artificial tree better provides more of a holiday atmosphere.

“I think it’s better because the poor old tree was kind of sad looking,” Barber said.

Students feel excited about this year’s event because the artificial tree looks more realistic than last year’s tree.

“I’m excited because it’s going to look like a real Christmas tree this time,” said Nathan Frost, senior business major. “It will be a bigger event since it’s going to be out in Metzger. I think it will be really fun.”

Students said that the Christmas Tree Lighting event will bring the Biola community closer together.

“It’s going to make the Christmas tree lighting much more communal because more people will be able to be closer to the tree and around it on all sides,” said Cody Burr, senior business management major.