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Shown ready for the holiday festivities are Santa and friends. Manchester University is inviting their neighbors over to join students, faculty and staff in heralding this time of giving with its Tree-Lighting Ceremony at dusk Dec. 2. Santa, music, the Chime, luminaries, hot chocolate and cookies are all Manchester tree-lighting traditions – offered for free to area residents and members of the campus community in the spirit of giving. The gathering begins at 5:30 p.m. beneath the 45-foot-tall blue spruce in front of the Jo Young Switzer Center, the surrounding paths gently lit by luminaries. Santa will be on hand for whispered requests from little ones and to pose for photos. Chartwells campus food service will provide refreshments. At 6 p.m., President Dave McFadden will welcome the crowd and the season – and light the tree. There will be a contest to guess the number of lights on the tree, and the prize is a campus store gift certificate. The Jo Young Switzer Center is on East Street, on the east side of the North Manchester campus. That section of East Street is scheduled to close for the event is order for participants to walk safely. Visitor parking is on the north side of the center and at the lower PERC lot. Manchester is a tobacco-free campus.
