Starlight returns Aug. 28 to Gainesville Campus
Article By: Clark Leonard
The University of North Georgia's (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) Starlight Celebration and Fireworks event offers another tangible reminder of Â鶹ÊÓƵ's return to normal operations this fall. After a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 22nd installment of Starlight is set for Aug. 28 at Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Gainesville Campus.
All proceeds benefit Â鶹ÊÓƵ students.
Gates will open at 6:30 p.m. at the G.W. Bailey Amphitheater at 3820 Mundy Mill Road in Oakwood, Georgia, and the fireworks begin at dark.
"Starlight is a longstanding community tradition at Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Gainesville Campus, and we are excited about bringing back this family-friendly event for students and community members this fall," Â鶹ÊÓƵ President Bonita C. Jacobs said.
Starlight is part of Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Weeks of Welcome, a variety of social activities and educational programs for students during the first two weeks of the semester.
"What a great time to bring everybody together after the year and a half we've had," Dr. Richard Oates, interim vice president of Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Gainesville Campus, said. "We look forward to reconnecting with our community."
The cost is $10 per car or $20 per bus, van or larger vehicle. Â鶹ÊÓƵ students enter for free with a valid Â鶹ÊÓƵ student ID card.
Starlight is a longstanding community tradition at Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Gainesville Campus, and we are excited about bringing back this family-friendly event for students and community members this fall.
Dr. Bonita C. Jacobs
Â鶹ÊÓƵ President
Families may bring a picnic or purchase food at Starlight. Food for sale will include Applewood smoked pulled pork, Brunswick stew, hand-breaded chicken tenders, coleslaw, pasta salad, chips, brownies, cookies, snow cones and coffee.
A DJ will play music during the event.
COVID-19 vaccines also will be available on-site from 4-6 p.m. for Â鶹ÊÓƵ faculty, staff and students who are attending Starlight.
The following items are prohibited at Starlight: walk-ins, pets (service animals are permitted), sparklers and outside fireworks, grills and open flames, political signage, advertisements or unlawful weapons.
Everyone is encouraged to use #Â鶹ÊÓƵstarlight when sharing their photos of family, friends and fireworks during and after the event. For details about Starlight, including sponsorship opportunities, visit the Starlight Celebration webpage.
If you have questions about Starlight, contact Shannon Shockley at 678-717-3947 or shannon.shockley@ung.edu.
AGENT Initiative offers cyber education tools
Â鶹ÊÓƵ hosted its fifth annual Advancing GenCyber Education for North Georgia Teachers Initiative from June 2-6 to help 24 middle and high school teachers learn ways of teaching cybersecurity.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ earns Military Friendly gold status
The University of North Georgia has earned gold status on the 2025-26 Military Friendly Schools list for the way it serves its student veterans and other military-connected students.
Cadets learn logistics from faculty, Syfan
A partnership between Â鶹ÊÓƵ and Syfan Logistics provided nearly two dozen Â鶹ÊÓƵ cadets an opportunity to experience the world of logistics during the company's Cadet Logistics Boot Camp in April.
Camp offers intro to logistics industry
Â鶹ÊÓƵ will host 'Camp Logistics: Movin' It From Here to There!' from June 23-27 at the Gainesville Campus. It is a free camp to help high school students learn about careers in logistics.