One of Alabama’s best spring events is back in Florence this year on March 13

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Did you know that thousands of people gather at The University of North Alabama’s campus in Florence each year to watch the fountain come to life?

Read on to learn how one late evening in March inspired UNA President Dr. Kenneth Kitts and his wife Dena to start this tradition and find out which Emmy award-winning artist will perform at the event.

Take a look at this high-energy event 👇

How it all got started

Right after Dr. Kitts became president of UNA in 2015, he was at the president’s home on campus late one night. The lights came on in the plaza right outside the home and shone through the windows.

“I looked out at Harrison Plaza and saw that the centerpiece of our campus— the beautiful fountain—had come back to life. The fountain had been dormant during the winter months, and all of a sudden, the lights were on and the water was flowing.

I thought, ‘What a missed opportunity. Let’s bring the fountain back to life with our students here to help us do it.'”

Dr. Kenneth Kitts, UNA President

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Boosting positivity on UNA’s campus

In 2016, Dr. Kitts brought the inaugural Light the Fountain to UNA, strategically planning the event during the dawn of spring.

“The middle of the spring semester on any college campus can be kind of tough. You’re coming off the winter months. It’s cold, and the football games and holidays from the fall semester are over.

The timing of Light the Fountain is perfect. It really announces the reawakening of campus, and our students have absolutely embraced that notion.”

Dr. Kenneth Kitts, UNA President

The event has only gotten bigger year after year—largely due to the key contributions of Dr. Kitts’ wife, Dena. She not only helped Dr. Kitts get Light the Fountain off the ground; she helps strategically plan the event lineup annually.

Open to students, faculty and guests, Light the Fountain includes food trucks, live music, giveaways, a pep rally, a lighting ceremony, dancing and more.

Fun fact: Light the Fountain isn’t the only fountain-centric tradition at UNA. The Lucky Dip is also a staple of campus. Started as a prank, the Lucky Dip has blossomed into a full-blown event where students dip their pencils in the fountain to receive good luck for the semester.

Know before you go: event details

Heads up: this year’s Light the Fountain will include a performance from an Emmy award-winning artist, so you don’t want to miss it.

• When: March 13, 2025
• Where: Harrison Plaza, UNA Campus, 1 Harrison Plaza, Florence, AL 35632
• How much: Free!
• Schedule:
  • 4PM: Food trucks available
    • Including DonutNV, Flashy Funnel Cakes, Nashville Hot, Oliver Creamery, Smashed, Smile Beverage Co., Sparks Sweet Smoke BBQ + Wander Coffee
  • 6:30PM: Music, t-shirts + other giveaways
  • 7:15PM: Live performance from Emmy award-winning artist and alumnus Dillon Hodges, who’s part of a duo with his wife named firekid.
  • 7:20: Pep rally
  • 7:30PM: Light the Fountain Ceremony
  • 7:45-9PM: Celebration continues with music and dancing

“I am incredibly proud of this campus. This year’s Light the Fountain coincides with our 195th anniversary. We’re Alabama’s oldest four-year university, and so we’re already starting to get excited about another big celebration, which will be our bicentennial in January of 2030.”

Dr. Kenneth Kitts, UNA President

Don’t miss Light the Fountain on March 13 and check out all that UNA has to offer.

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