Christmas kicks off at Hydaway: Hydaway partnered with Urban Mountain Adventures to give back
As the crisp December air embraced Liberty University’s Hydaway Outdoor Center, a winter wonderland beckoned students and guests to immerse themselves in the thrill of Christmas at Hydaway.
The warm aroma of cocoa mingled with the scent of the earthy outdoors while groups huddled around festive hot chocolate stands. Christmas music floated through the air as the night sparkled with an array of lights, embellishing every direction.
Meandering through the wonderland, lit walking pathways unveiled surprises at every turn, ranging from a Rookies cookie stand to trees adorned with red and white lights, mimicking giant candy canes. As Santa greeted children with his elves and sleigh, a nativity scene was nestled in the corner, providing a reminder of the significance of the Christmas season for all to see. Amid the festive environment, students gathered in friend groups, enjoying the time together before the end of the semester and final exams.
“I really enjoy how Christmas at Hydaway is allowing me to hang out with friends, meet new people, and get in the Christmas spirit,” freshman Catherine Jones said. “With the exams and a lot of school work, Christmas at Hydaway is making this time cheerful and happy.”
Christmas at Hydaway hosts more than 3,500 people each year, with many students volunteering to help the event thrive.
“My favorite part about (working) at Christmas at Hydaway is getting to see the people get excited for Christmas,” Alex Kunda, senior and worker at Christmas at Hydaway, said. “Coming here and watching people set up while the Christmas music is playing is super exciting. I love the Christmas spirit here at Hydaway — it’s awesome.”
Katy Clay, the director of Outdoor Recreation at Liberty, described Christmas at Hydaway’s mission of creating an enchanting and inviting experience for all attendees.
“Christmas at Hydaway is a really unique opportunity to come to something completely free and get to experience the joy of other people surrounding you wanting to do the same thing,” Clay said. “Each year, I love being able to see all the different kinds of people that get to come to this event. People love Christmastime, and so being able to bring in people from all areas is a wonderful opportunity that not everywhere gets.”
An annual tradition at Liberty, Christmas at Hydaway strives to introduce fresh and innovative ways to captivate attendees each year.
“We have some new scenes that we haven’t done in previous years,” Clay said. “We always encourage people to come back because we expand a little bit every year, aiming to keep things fresh and make it bigger and better.”
In the spirit of giving, Clay revealed Christmas at Hydaway’s partnership with Urban Mountain Adventures, a local nonprofit, to give back to the community. Through a QR code scan on the event pamphlet, attendees had the opportunity to donate to a mission that provides a positive experience for urban youth by providing wilderness exploration, mentorship programs and skill-building initiatives.
Christmas at Hydaway has not only become a tradition for Liberty University, but for the Lynchburg community at large. Clay described Christmas at Hydaway’s goal of uniting both the Liberty and Lynchburg community.
“I hope that students and attendees walk away understanding that Lynchburg’s not just Liberty. Lynchburg is a lot more than just that; it’s a special and unique community,” Clay said.