November 13, 2024 by

Home for the Holidays 

You may have heard it said, “There’s no place like home for the holidays.” Well, we like to call Cedarville our home away from home, and there is certainly nothing like Cedarville for the holidays!  

Christmastime is by far the most magical time to be on Cedarville’s campus. From the absolutely beautiful decorations to the fun events, the Christmas spirit is beautifully displayed around campus. Throughout the holiday season, the Campus Activities Board (CAB) and the Student Government Association (SGA) keep students very busy with thrilling and nostalgic activities! Cedarville’s Christmas spirit is greatly enhanced through several fun and exciting events on and off campus: Campus Christmas, the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Deck the Halls, the Community Christmas Celebration, and local Christmas events in the surrounding community.  

Campus Christmas 

Campus Christmas is a big deal at Cedarville. It is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year! Some of the specific events students can get involved in are late-night breakfast in the dining hall, a miniature train ride around the lake, Christmas story time with professors, and so much more! Specifically for Campus Christmas, the dining hall opens its doors late at night for students to enjoy a late-night breakfast during the evening’s festivities. Some years, a miniature train will carry students around the lake for a cold but festive ride! Christmas story time is a sweet event where students gather to listen to some of Cedarville’s beloved faculty read a Christmas story. Whether you are looking for a fun experience or a nostalgic time to relax, Campus Christmas is something you will not want to miss! 

Christmas Tree Lighting 

The Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony is arguably one of the most beautiful events on campus all year. Right before Thanksgiving break, students gather around the 32-foot campus Christmas tree to celebrate its official lighting for the year. 

Let me paint a picture for you of what it all looks like. As students, faculty, and staff gather around the lake, you can hear the sound of hundreds if not thousands of voices lifting up praise to the King who came so humbly to Earth as a baby so many years ago. After an exciting countdown, the tree illuminates in a beautiful array of light, and the crowd cannot help but smile at the splendid sight.  

Can you see why I would think it is one of the most beautiful events of the year? You do not want to miss this wonderful experience! This year, the ceremony is Thursday, November 14, at 7:30 p.m. If you live locally, I encourage you to stop by! If not, the entire ceremony will be livestreamed on Cedarville’s website, YouTube channel, and Facebook page! 

Deck the Halls 

If the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is the most beautiful event on campus, then Deck the Halls is by far the craziest event on campus! On this one night, halls and units will unite to put on a themed show in their dorms and compete against other dorms on campus. Each dorm will have a theme for the decorations that is acted out by residents of the dorm and then presented to visitors “touring” the scene. Residents and guests can visit every dorm on campus and walk through their unique themes. At the end of the night, the judges will reveal which dorm or unit group has won the ultimate bragging rights as Deck the Halls champions! When Deck the Halls rolls around, there is no doubt you will want to put on your walking shoes and go dorm-to-dorm to see who has “decked the halls” the best! 

Community Christmas Concert 

Each holiday season, Cedarville University presents a special Christmas celebration concert as a gift to the local community and our campus. Hundreds of students are involved as a part of our choral and instrumental ensembles. This year, the concert is on Sunday, December 8, and anyone who is in the area is encouraged to join in the celebration! If you don’t live locally, the concert is also livestreamed.  

Local Christmas Events 

While Christmas on Cedarville’s campus is beautiful, you cannot forget all of the fun opportunities to celebrate within the local community. From Christmas carnivals to light shows, there are so many things to participate in during the Christmas season. 

  • The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill: Less than ten minutes up the road from Cedarville is Clifton Mill, where they put on a spectacular light show every year.
  • Little Town of Lights: There are also special events down on Main Street in Cedarville, where you can find yourself basking in the Christmas spirit. The annual Little Town of Lights event this year on Saturday, December 7 includes a lighted parade down Main Street, horse-drawn carriage rides, local vendors, food trucks, and more!
  • Students can also simply take a walk or a drive around town at night looking at the beautiful Christmas decorations the town has to offer. There is an annual contest each year for the best Christmas lights, and Christmas is certainly a beautiful time of year to get involved in the local community! 

The True Meaning of Christmas 

Though we like to have a lot of fun with our classic Christmas traditions here at Cedarville, we also want to recognize that Christmas is a whole lot deeper than any lights or tree. During the holiday season, we as believers have a special opportunity to reflect upon the birth of Christ so many years ago. Jesus truly is the reason for the season, and at Cedarville, that is the heart of why we do what we do! So, amidst all the fun, the coziness, and the chaos that the Christmas season brings, I encourage you to focus your eyes on the reason we celebrate: Christ came into the world as an infant, died the death we deserved as a payment for our sin, and rose to life three days later. Because of Him, we now have life according to His great mercy, grace, and love! May He alone be our source of true joy this Christmas season! 

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