Elmhurst University to host ‘Festival of Lessons & Carols’

The annual Elmhurst University “Festival of Lessons and Carols” draws together the campus and community to welcome a joyful and spiritual season.

This year’s celebration of the tradition will take place on Friday, Dec. 5, in Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel, 190 Prospect Ave., Elmhurst.

The Festival of Lessons and Carols is an Elmhurst University tradition that bridges the season of Advent and Christmastide. Held since 1961, the festival consists of nine Scriptural readings that tell the story of the birth of the Messiah.

The Elmhurst University choirs will perform time-honored songs to accompany each reading and set the holiday mood.

Public lectures, concerts, theater performances and other diverse cultural programming at Elmhurst University support community engagement and lifelong learning, and prepare students to thrive as adaptive leaders.

The university will offer two “Lessons and Carols” services, at 4 and 7 p.m., to accommodate the popularity of the event.

Doors will open half an hour before each start time. For those who are unable to attend in person, the 7 p.m. service will be livestreamed at elmhurst.edu/bluejaytv.

The event is free and all are welcome. For more information, email marketing@elmhurst.edu.