The band energetically plays their music, fireworks light up the sky, and a surge of heat radiates from the flames of the bonfire during Texas High School’s annual community pep rally, celebrating their achievement of making it to the playoffs on Nov. 13, 2025.
Traditionally, a bonfire represents community and togetherness, while the fire represents pushing back darkness. The bonfire pep rally was first held during homecoming. Then, it moved to the last pep rally of the season.
Now, the tradition takes place during the playoff season, where all students and community members band together to support one another, specifically all involved in moving forward to the playoffs.
“This event is one [that’s] a bonding time for all of the tigers,” student council coordinator Susan Waldrep said. “This is one of those things that it’s just for school spirit and fun.”
As friends and family gather around the fire, the true meaning of this event begins to come to light.
“I think it’s an important event due to its ability to foster and almost [a] tangible sense of community and culture,” sophomore Horatio Foster said. “Because it’s a tradition, it’s just a good feeling to be part of the experience.”
The planning of the event, from the scripts to the performances and building of the bonfire all rely on the involvement of the student council organization, with student body president Sanders Wiggins taking charge to ensure completion of these tasks.
“I’m in charge of getting the pallets there, getting the people where they need to go, getting the script for the pep rally written,” Wiggins said. “In leadership, we have a semester project each semester, so [mine is] to put on the bonfire pep rally.”
Along with any able seniors, the student council received help from businesspeople, greatly aiding the students and allowing them to have fond memories of their time building together.
“We got helped by Cody Peek at Reliance Mechanical Contracting, [which] is one of the businesses that helped, and Mr. Bill Morrel helped [using] his company,” Waldrep said. “Those two companies were [a] huge help in getting this bonfire pep rally done and actually happening.”
A new tradition, started last year, continued this year, with many seniors representing different clubs and organizations at the school passing the torch to principal Ben Renner, who then lit the fire.
“This is my first bonfire, and to get the opportunity to pass [the torch forward felt] amazing,” senior Angel Venable said. “I feel like everyone being able to come together as a whole like this from Texas High is going to evolve our climate overall.”
During the pep rally and the transition to the lighting of the bonfire, the band’s energy resonated with many attendees.
“I felt really happy when performing to the crowd, seeing how they really enjoyed the music really made my day had so much fun,” sophomore Citlali Roman said. “I enjoyed watching the fireworks with my friends, and it was an overall great experience.”
In Texas High School’s history, the tradition remains deeply rooted, dating back 65 years.
“It is a tradition that, I know, they have done it for well over 50 years,” Waldrep said. “We’re one of the few schools [that] get to do a bonfire, so it’s just a cool thing that we do.”
