Holiday happenings approach in the NSU community

By NSU Staff Writer Dustin Woods

The Northeastern State University community will bustle with activity and events this holiday season. Parades, lightings and performances fill the calendar during December as 2009 draws to a close.

Seminary Hall is adorned in a holiday veil of lights to be illuminated during the Lights On ceremony Dec. 7 at 5:30 p.m., an event long regarded as the kickoff for the holiday season at NSU.

I think this is a great event because it brings the campus community and the Tahlequah community together to officially begin the Christmas season, NSU Theater instructor Robyn Pursley said.

Lights shine again to usher in the holidays during the Christmas Parade on Muskogee Avenue Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m. Floats compete for the Santa's Choice award by displaying designs that adhere to this year's theme, A Christmas in Cinema.

Musical performances are also part of the season's festivities, beginning with All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 presented by the Sequoyah Institute Dec. 12 at the Tahlequah High School Performing Arts Center.

Also scheduled are numerous performances by Downtown Country at the NSU Playhouse Dec. 3-5. The Holiday Downtown Country performances have been a part of NSU's holiday tradition since 2000. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and may be purchased by calling the NSU Sequoyah Institute box office at 918-458-2075.

Another night of holiday music and inspiration is the presentation of Lessons and Carols at the First united Methodist Church Dec. 6 at 5 p.m. A variety of Renaissance and Baroque choral works will be performed, and many modern choral songs will involve audience participation.

Several university and community leaders, including Cherokee Chief Chad Smith and NSU College of Liberal Arts dean Paul Westbrook, will attend and play various roles during the Lessons participation segment.

11/30/2009

Published: 2009-11-30 00:00:00