By Joana Karoshi | Staff Writer
“It’s composed of five bales of hay, 616 pallets and 10 gallons of diesel fuel,” Flower Mound senior Isaac Points, Chamber of Commerce bonfire coordinator, said.
Now in its 117th year, the Baylor Homecoming bonfire brought together students, parents and alumni Friday night on Fountain Mall as the flames rose, continuing a tradition that dates back to 1909.
Points said preparing the bonfire takes approximately six months. Chamber of Commerce members handle much of the work while collaborating with first-year students throughout the process.
“We love to have the freshmen come out and experience the tradition for the first time,” Points said. “The bonfire, along with the Mass Meeting [which] is a freshman-only tradition, so it’s great to see everyone there.”
Points, who has been involved with Chamber since 2024, said one of the most memorable aspects of this year’s preparation was working alongside Baylor Student Activities and homecoming Chair Cameron Sturkie, a Rockwall junior.
“Being able to participate alongside several generations of Baylor alumni, as well as second-generation Baylor students, is something that brings the entire Baylor community together,” Points said.
The tradition calls for four torchbearers, each representing one of Baylor’s undergraduate classes, to light the bonfire. Houston sophomore Carter Feenstra was among those selected.
“Representing an entire class is awesome, especially for a tradition that’s so old,” Feenstra said. “It means a lot to look out at the crowd and see the class that I am representing. It’s amazing.”
Feenstra said the Chamber of Commerce contacted him and invited him to represent his class. Although he initially did not know what the role would involve, he became excited after learning more about the responsibility.
“The whole point of bonfire is passing on what we already have to the next generation, so to be a part of that, even on the lower end as a sophomore, means a lot,” Feenstra said.
For some students, the bonfire is a tradition worth returning to. Windswept, Louisiana, sophomore Andrew Terrebonne said it was the second time attending the bonfire, and he wanted to relive the experience.
“It’s just so cool to be part of such a historic tradition, and that’s just one of the main reasons why I came to Baylor,” he said.
Terrebonne said the energy surrounding the bonfire was another part of what made the event memorable. When asked to describe the atmosphere, he summed it up in one word: “Fire.”
Austin sophomore Kyle Weaver attended the bonfire with friends, drawn to the event after learning it was happening. He described the atmosphere as energetic, with students excited for the festivities.
“It’s definitely electric out here,” Weaver said. “ A lot of energy, and people are hyped for the festivities.”
