The College of Charleston (CofC) has hosted its Cougar Night Lights—a beautiful, interactive holiday light show—since 2017 in its Cistern Yard, but the show’s architects had no idea their student-focused event would become a city-wide attraction for countless people other than students.
The brainchild of John Reynolds, a local cinematographer and lighting designer, Cougar Night Lights has captured the minds of Charlestonians, young and old, since its inception, with Reynolds’ lights dancing in tune with different songs each year.
It all started when several CofC staff members—Executive Vice President for Student Affairs Alicia Caudill, Chief of Staff Paul Patrick and Deputy Chief of Staff Mark Berry were discussing a way to bring students together during the holidays. “We knew we needed something that we didn’t already have on campus,” Caudill explains…