Inside Iowa State

November 19, 2004

Celebrate the season

A variety of campus activities are geared toward the coming winter season. There'll be a Winter Festival at the Memorial Union, Blossoms of Light at Reiman Gardens and the Victorian Holiday Celebration at the Farm House. Events will include concerts, children's activities, workshops and sales. (If you're ready to shop, you also might want to check out our gift guide.)

Events kick off Dec. 1 with the Winter Festival, this year planned by LINC, the Leaders INspiring Connections group organized by the Veishea 2005 executive board. Plans include a Battle of the Bands from 2:30 to 10 p.m. at the Maintenance Shop in the Memorial Union.

The festival also includes a campus lighting ceremony in front of the Memorial Union, beginning at 5:15 p.m. with holiday music from various ISU student groups and the lighting at 6 p.m. There also will be food vendors.

That same day, the University Book Store will hold its winter open house from 7:45 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Events from 5 to 7 p.m. will include free treats from the ISU Dining and a visit from associate art and design professor Chuck Richards, author and illustrator of the children's book Jungle Gym Jitters.

Reiman Gardens will hold its Blossoms of Light festival Dec. 3-4 and Dec. 10-11. Admission will be free the first weekend, although there will be a charge for workshops.

Events will run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and include a Victorian holiday display in the conservatory, free stations for writing letters to Santa and making origami ornaments, workshops on creating gingerbread houses and holiday wreaths, performances by musical groups and holiday lights in the gardens from dusk until 9 p.m.

The Farm House will be decked out in its Victorian finery on Dec. 5. The annual celebration, from 1 to 4 p.m., includes music, crafts, light refreshments and horse-drawn wagon rides. Santa Claus will make an appearance and pose with children for photos ($2).

Blossoms of Light festival

Reiman Gardens, 4-8056, Dec. 3-4
Admission free
(Prepayment for workshops required; discounts for members)

Friday, December 3

• 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Victorian holiday display, conservatory.
• 3-6 p.m., Christmas tree sale, ISU Forestry Club, maintenance shed, 4-8056.
• 6-9 p.m., Holiday light display, gardens.
• 6-8 p.m., Santa letter-writing station, Hazel's Kitchen.
• 6-8 p.m., Origami ornament station, exhibit hall.
• 6:30 p.m., Workshop, gingerbread house, $35/family, auditorium.
• 6:30-7 p.m., Performance, Ames Children's Choir holiday performance, conservatory.

Saturday, December 4

• 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Victorian holiday display, see Dec. 3.
• 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Christmas tree sale, see Dec. 3.
• 8 a.m., Wreath workshop, $35, Hunziker house.
• 9 a.m.- 3 p.m., Poinsettia sale, exhibit hall.
• 11 a.m., Kissing ball workshop, $30, Hunziker house.
• 6-9 p.m., Holiday light display, see Dec. 3.
• 6-8 p.m., Santa letter-writing station, see Dec. 3.
• 6-8 p.m., Origami ornament station, see Dec. 3.
• 6-8 p.m., Musical performances, exhibit hall and conservatory.

Festival continues Dec. 10-11, $7 admission, see online schedule at http://www.reimangardens.iastate.edu/index.cfm.

• Dec. 1 -- Winter Festival, Memorial Union
• Dec. 3-4 and 10-11 -- Blossoms of Light, Reiman Gardens
• Dec. 5 -- Victorian Holiday, Farm House