Join colleagues and students across campus in celebrating the holiday season at the second-annual Wittenberg Tree Lighting event on Thursday, Dec. 1, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Chapel Lawn and Alumni Way.

The official tree lighting will take place on Chapel Lawn at 5:30 p.m. and holiday music will be provided by a capella groups Just Eve and the Wittmen Crew, while Wittenberg’s Cheerleading and Pep Crew will keep the event festive. New this year will be the traditional ‘Sounds of the Season’ sing-along event that normally takes place in Recitation Hall. Beginning at approximately 4:30 p.m., this annual singing of favorite Christmas tunes is in partnership with the Office of Human Resources. In the event of rain, all events will move inside to Geil Lounge on the lower level of the Benham-Pence Student Center.

Other activities will include a ‘reindeer’ petting station featuring Wittenberg 4Paws pups dressed in festive gear, assorted holiday crafts provided by the Staff Advisory Council and Student Involvement, a make-your-own reindeer chow station with Chex Mix, chocolate, and other treats, and a make-your-own Christmas ornament area. Hot beverages and refreshments will also be available.

“The tree lighting event brings the campus together to not only celebrate the holidays, but to celebrate our campus community. The lighting of the tree, which reflects our beloved motto, ‘Having Light We Pass It On To Others,’ is a nice way for us all to come back together again and reconnect with everyone on campus,” said Brandee Bates Kern, director of donor experience and stewardship, who is helping to plan the event.

Just in time for the holidays, Dan McDermitt, director of facilities management, and his team have been hard at work in their workshop preparing a ‘special chair’ that will be presented at the tree lighting. Be sure you have your camera ready for what will be a great photo opp.

Also, during the Tree Lighting event, the Department of World Languages & Cultures in conjunction with both the Departments of Art and Music, will be hosting a traditional German/Austrian-style Christmas market event from 5 to 7 p.m. on Stoughton Lawn. The event will feature artworks for sale for the holiday season from a local alumnus, students, and art faculty, along with musical performances by the Department of Music, which will begin at 6 p.m. Traditional German beverages and holiday treats will be served, and there will be a raffle along with a gingerbread house-making contest. 

Looking ahead, mark the calendar for another traditional holiday favorite at Wittenberg that involves ‘light’ – the annual Lessons and Carols for Advent and Christmas. Offering a time of music and reflection as the Advent season unfolds, Lessons and Carols will take place on Friday, Dec. 9, with pre-service music beginning at 6:30 p.m. followed by the service at 7:30 p.m. As in previous years, the service will conclude with a candlelit singing of “Silent Night.”