Iowa State University


Inside Iowa State
November 17, 2000

Lights turn on Nov. 29

by Anne Krapfl
An opera performance, live reindeer and thousands of outdoor lights -- electric and otherwise -- highlight Iowa State's annual Festival of Lights to kick off the winter season. Additional activities for children connect the festival to the year-long celebration, "Strengthening families to become the best." Festival of Lights will be held Wednesday evening, Nov. 29, on central campus. Iowa State students and employees, and their families are invited.

The festivities begin at 5 p.m., when Iowa State carillonneur Tin-shi Tam begins a pre-lighting concert. Tam also will play after the program and the campanile will be open for tours.

Cookies and hot chocolate will be served as people arrive in front of Beardshear Hall for the 5:15 p.m. lighting ceremony. The ceremony will include music by the ISU Oratorio Chorus, brief remarks by interim President Richard Seagrave and lighting of thousands of decorative lights. (The winter lights at Reiman Gardens that day will be lit to coincide with the central campus lighting.)

Following the program, there will be open houses at the campanile, Farm House Museum, Child Development Lab School in the Palmer Building and University Book Store. Luminaries will line central campus sidewalks and several student vocal groups will be out strolling and entertaining. Clowns from KangaKids will share balloon sculptures in holiday shapes at the lab school's open house. A horse-drawn wagon will circle central campus and live reindeer will be snacking outside the Palmer Building. The bookstore will host a story time for children.

At 6:30 p.m. in the Tye Recital Hall, the ISU Opera Studio, coached by artist-in-residence Simon Estes, and the ISU Symphony will present Amahl and the Night Visitors, Gian Carlo Menotti's opera about a crippled boy and his mother who meet the three kings during their search for the Christ child. Tickets are $4 and available at the music department office or by calling 4-3831. The performance will be repeated at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30.

Horticulture club members will sell poinsettias outside the bookstore Wednesday from 10 a.m. through the open house. On Thursday and Friday, Nov. 30-Dec. 1 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), the sale will move to the west end of the Memorial Union ground floor, near the curved staircase. Club members also will sell plants from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 29-Dec. 1 on the ground floor of Curtiss Hall. About 1,200 plants, in 5-, 6- and 8- inch pots, will be sold. Prices are $5, $8 and $14.

Festival of Lights
Wednesday, Nov. 29

Holiday sales

Forestry Club
3-7 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays, 4-1167.

Nov. 25, Dec. 1-3

December 1-3