Aquinas kicks off its Christmas celebrations on Wednesday, December 3 at 2 p.m. with AQ Programming Board’s celebration of Christmas in the Moose, with free Christmas card and ornament decoration, enough to quell any early “bah-humbugs!” At 6 p.m. that same day, the annual Christmas tree lighting will be taking place on Holmdene Lawn. The event is coordinated by AQ Programming Board as well, features a blessing for the advent season by Fr. Stan Drongowski for the entire Aquinas community, and is free and open to the public. After the tree lighting, at 10 p.m., there will be Eucharistic adoration at Bukowski Chapel on campus until midnight.

On Thursday, December 4, Campus Dining is offering a holiday cookie decorating party during dinner in Wege cafeteria, beginning at 5 p.m. The same evening, the well-loved Aquismas Tradition will be taking place in the lobby of Regina Hall. Aquismas Tradition involves the reading of Christmas stories by Aquinas faculty and staff to students gathered in the lobby. Pajamas and slippers are encouraged, and light refreshments will be served. This event is free, and open to current students, faculty and staff.

At St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, adjacent to campus at 1449 Wilcox Park Drive Southeast, the Service of Lessons and Carols will be performed by the Aquinas College Choirs on Sunday, December 7. Starting at 5 p.m., the story of Jesus’ birth will be told through both music and scripture. This event is open to the public and free of charge.

On Thursday, December 11, from 5 to 7 p.m., the annual Wege Merry Christmas dinner will be held, for the cost of one meal swipe per student. The Christmas dinner unites students on campus and draws a large crowd every year. Typical Christmas comfort food will be served, and this meal serves as a relaxing experience before the stress of finals week commences. Following the Merry Christmas dinner at 7:30 p.m. at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish (1935 Plymouth Ave SE, Grand Rapids), there will be a joint concert of the IHM Parish Choir and the AQ College Chorus. The performance is free and open to the public, with a reception to follow.

On Saturday, December 13, from 9 p.m. until midnight, the Residence Life department is hosting their annual winter formal dance on campus in the Wege Ballroom. The winter formal is a favorite of students, as it is fully catered and offers an opportunity to abandon the intense studying, dress up, take a lot of photographs, and dance the stress away. Tickets are available to AQ students for $5 in advance through Residence Life, or $7 at the door.

Sunday, December 14, closes out Aquinas’ holiday events with the music department’s annual Christmas Concert at the Performing Arts Center at 3 p.m. Admission is free and the event is open to the public. There will be a Santa hat circulating the audience for those who wish to throw in a donation to the music department’s scholarship funds. The concert will include performances by all of the AQ ensembles, as well as several sing-alongs to get the audience involved. There will be Christmas cookies and refreshments after the show is over. This concert usually fills the Performing Arts Center, so get there early!