Festival of Lights on Dec. 3 to Welcome Christmas Season at Gardner-Webb University

Annual Tradition to Feature Founder Recognition Dinner, Holiday Music, Tree Lighting and Fellowship

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—The sights and sounds of Christmas will once again fill the campus of Gardner-Webb when the University hosts its annual Festival of Lights on Thursday, Dec. 3. The cherished holiday tradition brings together students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members for an evening of music, worship, fellowship and celebration as the Gardner-Webb family marks the beginning of the Christmas season.

Presented by the Gardner-Webb Department of Music, the Festival of Lights begins at 7:30 p.m. in Dover Theatre. Featuring the University’s choirs and orchestra, the program blends Scripture, congregational singing and seasonal music to celebrate the birth of Christ and the hope, peace, joy and love associated with Christmas.

“The Festival of Lights performance connects the full array of the Gardner-Webb family,” said Dr. Aaron Rice, professor of music and chair of the Department of Music. “We gather to focus our hearts again on the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ through song, scripture, sights and sounds.”

Rice noted that this year’s program will highlight Celtic Christmas traditions through music inspired by the folk melodies and musical heritage of Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Audience members will also experience Advent hymn singing and selections by composers including Dan Forrest, John Rutter, Benjamin Britten, Michael McGlynn and Karen Marrolli.

Following the performance, guests will process along a luminaria-lined path to the circle in front of Tucker Student Center for the annual Christmas tree lighting. The evening will conclude with refreshments and fellowship.

Earlier in the evening, guests may attend A Dinner to Remember, which begins at 5:30 p.m. in Stewart and Hope Hall of Tucker Student Center. During the dinner, Gardner-Webb will recognize several of the University’s founders whose vision and commitment helped shape the institution’s history and mission.

Tickets are available for the performance only, as well as dinner-and-performance packages. The first 50 students to reserve their tickets through Linda Lee in the Department of Music ([email protected]) will receive free admission to the performance.

Ticket options include:

• Performance only (general admission): $15
• Dinner and performance: $55
• Dinner and performance, table of 8: $420
• Dinner only: $40
• Dinner only, table of 8: $300
• GWU faculty and staff dinner and performance: $45
• Sponsor an individual student’s dinner and performance: $55
• Student dinner and performance: $25

Dinner tickets must be purchased by Nov. 29. Performance-only tickets will also be available for purchase on the day of the event. Guests may make an optional donation to Friends of Music during checkout.

Festival of Lights tickets may be purchased at gwutickets.vivenushop.com.

Event Schedule

• 5:30 p.m. – A Dinner to Remember
  Stewart and Hope Hall, Tucker Student Center

• 7:30 p.m. – Festival of Lights
  Dover Theatre

• 9:00 p.m. – Luminaria Procession

• 9:05 p.m. – Christmas Tree Lighting
  Circle in front of Tucker Student Center

Immediately Following – Refreshments and Fellowship, Tucker Student Center

Get in the holiday spirit

Share photos of your decorations, Christmas lights, and GWU spirit home for the holidays using #GWUfestivalOfLights

Auxiliary aids will be made available to persons with disabilities upon request 10 working days prior to the event.  Please call 704-406-4270 or email [email protected] with your request.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Become More at gardner-webb.edu.