Light up the Night: NINTH Annual Year-end CAMPUS FESTIVAL
To celebrate the end of class, MSU Campus Events, the McMaster University Alumni Association and the McMaster Students Union, along with a number of campus partners, including the Student Affairs and The Campus Store have partnered to create a truly awesome experience. We will Light Up the Night with thousands of bulbs strung between campus buildings and trees, with loads of free fun and excitement!
The eighth annual year-end campus festival will feature a Ferris wheel, the Gravitron, live music, as well as free food giveaways (while supplies last!). After taking in the view from the Ferris wheel, stroll the street playing carnival games, challenge yourself in the mobile escape room, then stop by one of the many food vendors to grab a bite to eat!
If the food trucks aren’t your style, chill with friends on the LED Swings. When the last classes of 2026 end at 10pm, look to the sky above BSB field for a drone show! After the drone show, a laser show will begin at the main stage.
If you start to feel a little overwhelmed or need support throughout the night, head inside the doors of MUSC to the Peer Support area. Student services including WGEN, SHEC and EFRT will be on-hand and SWHAT will operate until 1am for walk-home support. Professional staff from McMaster’s Sexual Violence Prevention and Response office will also be available to assist you if required.
This is a free event for all students, alumni, and community members!
Please note, a McMaster University student card will be required for access to the rides and the free food inside the TD Comfort Zone.
Light Up the Night won a prestigious Canadian Event Industry award in 2016 and was a finalist for the same honour in 2017.
WHEN?
Tuesday April 7, 2026
6 PM - 11 PM
WHERE?
McMASTER UNIVERSITY
SCHOLARS RD., between MUSC and Mary Keyes
WHAT TO EXPECT?
THE GRAVITRON
CARNIVAL GAMES
LED ROLLER RINK
LIVE KARAOKE
FOOD TRUCKS
LIVE MUSIC
ESCAPE ROOM
REDBULL COMFORT ZONE
PHOTO BOOTHS
DRONE SHOW
BOARD GAMES in MUSC
FREE FOOD & SWAG
PHOENIX TRIVIA & FOOD SPECIALS
Live Music, Food Trucks, & Carnival Games
Light Up the Night isn't your typical event, and the evening has been planned with a diverse range of students in mind. Interested in music? We've got you covered with live performances, plus a DJ on the main stage.
Rides and games more your thing? Then challenge your friends to any of the many carnival games as you walk the grounds or play a round of your favourite board game in MUSC. Regardless of your preference, Light Up the Night promises to be a blast.
Be sure to look up to the sky just after 10pm for the drone show that will take place above BSB field! Photo-booths and photo ops will be sprinkled throughout Light Up the Night.
LIGHT IT UP: ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES
Photo Booths
SAY CHEESE & MAKE MEMORIES THAT LAST
Step into one of the photo booth studios for a picture-perfect keepsake from your night out. Whether you’re striking a solo snapshot or cramming in with friends, each photo captures the spirit of the celebration—no filters needed. Come on in, flash that smile!
LED Roller Skating
GET YOUR GLOW ON
Get ready to "glow" with the flow at Light Up the Night — an electrifying evening of LED roller skating on our outdoor campus rink! Strap on a pair of LED skates and roll into a neon-lit atmosphere where the lights and vibes are shining bright. Whether you’re a seasoned skater or just finding your wheels, this is your chance to sparkle on the rink and truly light up the night.
MOBILE ESCAPE ROOMS
2 new escape rooms: the hot seat & the room
The Hot Seat is a high-intensity, 2-minute solo escape room designed for maximum pressure and quick thinking. The player must hold down a button for the entire game—if they let go, it's all over. While anchored in place, they must solve two rapid-fire puzzles using logic, observation, and focus. The Hot Seat delivers adrenaline-pumping fun in a compact, repeatable format that’s ideal for crowd engagement and entertainment. How long can you take the heat?
The Room is a five minute horror themed escape room in a trailer. Groups of up to five people (minimum 2) enter the trailer. One person is placed in a "cage", everyone has 5 minutes to solve 2 puzzles to save the person in the cage and escape the trailer. Yes, the person in the cage gets to do things too.”
Live Karaoke
Featuring the aproximators
What is live-band karaoke? It’s exactly like regular karaoke, except 1000X more fun. You pick a song from our list, add your name to the sign-up sheet, and when our emcee calls your name, you come up to sing your song with the band, who are there to make you sound great. (As is the audience: prepare to get cheered on no matter what happens.) Check out the videos below for a taste of what happens at our shows. And if you’re too nervous, don’t worry: there are lots of people who come out just to watch and dance and have fun.
BOARD GAMES IN MUSC
TAKE A BREAK FROM THE LIGHTS & SETTLE IN FOR SOME OLD FASHIONED FUN
While carnival games are fun, some of the best times a group can have are while bonding over board games. Featuring everything from Monopoly to Catan, the McMaster Board Game Society will be hosting a games night in the MUSC Atrium from 7-11 PM. Feel free to drop-in and mingle as you please, and don't hesitate to bring your own games to throw into the mix. Team leaders will be stationed at each table helping manage and coordinate each game - so don't be afraid to try something new.
Free Food & SWAG
TAKE A BREAK FROM THE LIGHTS & SETTLE IN FOR SOME OLD FASHIONED FUN
From tasty treats to limited-edition Light Up The Night merch, we’re serving up a little something for everyone—no strings attached. After all, nothing says celebration like free food and giveaways!
Midway Rides and Carnival Games
SPIN, SOAR & SCORE ALL NIGHT LONG
Enjoy a serene view of campus from the top of our Ferris Wheel or spin yourself silly with friends on the Gravitron—both guaranteed to get your adrenaline pumping under the night sky. Want more excitement? Step right up to one of our classic carnival games and put your skills to the test!
Street Performers
EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES
Our talented street performers and buskers will bring music and laughter to every corner of the celebration. Stroll through the festival and stumble upon pop-up shows that captivate and entertain, turning ordinary spaces into stages for unforgettable performances. Don’t forget to show your support and cheer them on—these local talents thrive on your applause!
Drone Show
END THE NIGHT WITH A DAZZLING DOUBLE DISPLAY
As the celebration winds down, look to the sky for a breathtaking combination of vibrant lasers and synchronized drones. Gather your friends, find the perfect viewing spot, and soak in these final moments of Light Up The Night!
TRANSIT & PARKING
If you are using public transit to reach McMaster, there are options via the HSR, GO Transit, and Hamilton Bike Share.
HSR Bus Routes
HSR routes are scheduled to run towards campus every 15 minutes during Light Up the Night, and fare is free with a valid McMaster University Student Card and HSR student bus pass. Real-time HSR schedules can be found online through the City of Hamilton website, and route specific information can be found below.
If you are traveling west towards McMaster (away from the downtown core), the number 1, 5, and 10 bus routes all stop at the University at Main & Emerson. Additionally, the 5C and 51 bus routes take passengers directly onto the University campus, stopping at Sterling at University.
If traveling east towards McMaster (away from Dundas), the number 5 bus route stops near the University at Main and Leland, and a short walk will take you directly onto campus.
GO Transit Routes
If you are coming from outside Hamilton, but you don't care to drive, there is a GO Transit bus terminal just steps from all the Light Up the Night action. Visit GO Transit's trip planner site to plot your route from Square One or York University to "McMaster U Bus Terminal". You can also take the QEW Express from Toronto to the Hunter St. GO Station in downtown Hamilton, and connect to McMaster via the HSR.
Hamilton Bike Share
Hamilton's bike share program has eight racks on campus. If you don't already have a bike and simply want to take a quick spin to campus, think about using Hamilton Bike Share to get to Light Up the Night.
Parking and Shuttle Bus Service
If you are parking in lots M, N or P - Parking Services has extended shuttle bus service until midnight on April 12.
Light up the Night is brought to you by the McMaster Students Union and the McMaster University Alumni Association, through MSU Campus Events, in partnership with Student Affairs. In addition, Light up the Night would not be possible without the financial support provided by:
