This year’s festive and family-friendly Christmas events run from Dec. 1 through Dec. 20 and offer a variety of activities. The schedule can be found on the Saint Francis Events Calendar.

NATIVITY ART EXHIBIT
Through Dec. 20
This exhibition at the Mimi and Ian Rolland Art and Visual Communication Center will be shown through Dec. 20, and will display works that focus on interpretations of the Nativity as a spiritual and artistic theme. Saint Francis is marking the 800th anniversary of the first living Nativity with this exhibit, including work by more than 30 regional artists. Visitors will see not only each artist’s interpretation of the Nativity story, but a reflection of their own faith. Gallery Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.

BROOKSIDE TOURS FEATURING CRÈCHES
Dec. 1 and 8 from 4 to 6 p.m.
Dec. 2, 3, 9 and 10 from noon to 5 p.m. Docent-led tours will feature crèches in decorated areas in Brookside. The cost is $10 per person and reservations based on tour times are required. Order tickets for this event in one of the many time slots over the two weekends. Tours begin every 30 minutes and last one hour.

HOLIDAY ART BAZAAR
Saturday, Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saint Francis faculty, students, staff and alumni from all disciplines are producing creative works, and their products will be offered at a holiday bazaar throughout the Mimi and Ian Rolland Art and Visual Communication Center. This event includes live music and, for the first 200 patrons, free tote bags (designed by Graphic Design student Reese Rosario).

LIGHTING OF THE LAKE AND LIVING NATIVITY
Sunday, Dec. 3 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
A petting zoo will precede the blessing of luminaries, which encircle Mirror Lake. The portrayal of the Living Nativity, celebrating the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ first Living Nativity, will follow outside St. Francis Chapel. End the evening with cookies and hot cocoa in Achatz Hall of Science and John and Toni Murray Research Center.

LECTURE: ST. FRANCIS AND THE FIRST LIVING NATIVITY
Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.
Join Sr. Felicity Dorsett, OSF, as she takes us on a journey to 800 years ago in the small Italian hill town of Greccio, where St. Francis, his brothers and people from the area celebrated the birth of Christ in a novel fashion. Illuminated by torches and candles, they gathered around the saint to see and hear with awe the Christmas story anew with Francis, remembering and rejoicing. This event will be held in the Saint Francis North Campus Auditorium. End the evening with complimentary cookies and hot cocoa.

For general questions about Christmas at Saint Francis, please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 260-399-8033 or advancement@sf.edu.