Here at E-town, we bring the holiday season to the heart of campus. We kick off the most wonderful time of the year with one of our favorite campus traditions: The Thanksgiving Dinner & Tree Lighting Ceremony. This holiday hybrid blends two of the most popular holidays of the year. Here’s why our Thanksgiving Dinner tradition is a campus favorite:
1. We Have an Early Bird Thanksgiving
In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, it’s normal to cravings for all those Thanksgiving favorites – turkey, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and stuffing. At E-town, we don’t make you wait! Thanksgiving dinner is served eight days before the national Thanksgiving holiday. No need to wait for the rest of the country to catch up – we don’t hesitate when it comes to great food and great friends.
2. We Don’t Eat Like Birds
Our Thanksgiving dinner screams family! Our cafeteria is transformed into a decorated Thanksgiving dinner venue. There’s no need to travel through the lines to retrieve your food. Instead, the meal is brought straight to your table and served by E-town faculty, staff and alumni. These welcoming hosts are there to serve your table throughout the night, so don’t be shy on the gravy!
3. Our Jays Flock Together
Nothing brings friends together like food! At Thanksgiving Dinner, you can bring the whole crew. Gather your friends, eat the delicious food and spend the night celebrating your friendship, along with the many other things to be thankful for.
4. After Dinner, We Get in the Holiday Spirit
After celebrating Thanksgiving, we get a jump start on Christmas and the whole holiday season. A special tree in the center of campus is lit up with lights in front of everyone on campus. Students huddle around the tree with cookies and cocoa and listen to College President Carl Strikwerda read a holiday tale. Following the story, acappella groups lead the bunch in a series of Christmas carols.
5. It’s a Great Photo Op
What’s a campus tradition without photos to capture the memories? Thanksgiving Dinner is treated as a semi-formal event. Everyone dresses for the occasion and gathers for photos. We even have a professional photographer ready to take “family portraits” of you and your friends!
Our Thanksgiving Dinner is just one of the many traditions shared at E-town. The dinner celebrates a meaningful holiday, and it demonstrates the close-knit community we have on campus. It’s a time to share a meal with friends and be thankful for life’s blessings. What’s your favorite way to celebrate Thanksgiving?