Area residents can get in the holiday spirit this month with a slate of free, public events hosted by the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ – Fort Smith, including a campus lighting ceremony, a festive holiday concert and a meet and greet with Santa.
The Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ holiday lighting ceremony will take place Nov. 25, followed by the Season’s Greetings Concert Dec. 3. Both events are a part of the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Season of Entertainment 39, a year-long lineup of entertainment sponsored by the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ - Fort Smith featuring a variety of plays, musicals and symphonic performances.
The Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Alumni Association will also host their annual Little Lions Meet Santa, Saturday, December 7, at the Blue Lion at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Downtown.
The campus lighting ceremony will take place at 5:30 p.m. November 25, at the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Bell Tower, where attendees can admire the campus adorned with holiday decorations. Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ students, alumni, and friends will perform live seasonal music, and hot chocolate will be served. After the ceremony, audience members can tour the campus and experience the landscape lighting throughout the area.
The Season’s Greetings concert will be held at 7 p.m. December 3, at the ArcBest Corp. Performing Arts Center at the Fort Smith Convention Center, 55 South Seventh Street. A lineup of classical holiday music will be performed by students from the university’s Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Chorale, Women’s Chorus, Jazz Catz, Opera and Musical Theatre workshop, Jazz Band, Brass Ensemble, and Symphonic Band. The performance will include a variety of secular and sacred holiday favorites, as well as a traditional singalong to close the show.
Though the concert is free, tickets are required and can be acquired by visiting www.tickets.uafs.edu or contacting the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Box Office at 479-788-7300.
The Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Alumni Association’s Little Lions Meet Santa event will feature letter writing, holiday crafts, Sweet Bay snacks and a professional photo with Santa from 9-11 a.m., at the Blue Lion at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Downtown.
Little Lions Meet Santa is also free, but registration is required. , or contact the Alumni Office at 479-788-7026 or alumni@uafs.eduto learn more.