Michigan Technological Student Alton Proctor lights up the 2021 all-nighter with firebreathing. Tonight’s event will feature a laser light show at 11:15 p.m. (Mining Gazette File Photo)

HOUGHTON — Blue Key Honor Society at Michigan Technological University has come up with a new way to kickstart all-nighter for this year’s Winter Carnival. While the capstone of the Fireworks and Torchlight Parade were sufficient, the society has tried to come up with a more theatrical way to begin the all-nighter. This year the society has decided to kickoff the competition with a laser mapping light show by Laser Encore.

Laser Encore is a company that conducts professional laser light shows and has taken on multiple projects across the country including holiday shows like Christmas and the Fourth of July, college and major league sporting events, snow sculpture contests and more.

The show will be a 5 ft by 50 ft light show display which will showcase this year’s Winter Carnival logo. It will be projected onto the side of the Walker Arts and Humanities Center that faces the campus and begin at 11:15 p.m. and last for about 20 minutes. The show will be conducted with protectors and a 25kVA generator. Music will accompany the show and coincide with the visuals.

Blue Key member Andrew Hemstreet said that Laser Encore was instructed to craft visuals inspired from the logo and to relate to a medieval theme.

What this will mean visually will be revealed at tonight’s show.

“I have heard broad excitement through multiple groups on campus about the addition of the light show as it adds to the visual aspect of Winter Carnival and helps set the tone for the week,” Hemstreet said.

“We have also taken previous feedback into consideration by adding some benches to the event so that all can attend. I personally can not wait to see how the show turns out.”