Christmas cheer inside and out from Penn State

Wednesday night’s rainy weather did not stop students, families and State College residents from seeing fraternity houses lit up for the holidays during the Interfraternity Council and Off-Campus Student Union’s fourth annual Holiday Lights Tour.

The hour-long tour went from Allen Street up through the Highlands area, showcasing the lighted fraternity houses, which were competing for best exterior and best interior designs.

According to the Holiday Lights Tour rulebook, “The point is to make it more interesting than simply a large collection of lights. The more integrated the theme the better.”

With Santa coming down the chimney, a miniature train and a live nativity scene, the decorations in the Alpha Tau Omega house were inspired by ideas from Danny Depasquale’s mom.

A member of Alpha Tau Omega, Depasquale (sophomore-art history) planned the display. The fraternity won the interior competition, which he said he focused on while still making the outside look good.

All 15 houses included on the tour were judged on outside characteristics. Three houses were pre-judged to have their interiors judged by tour-goers, where the tour would stop at those houses to take a look inside.