Marquette University to host Christmas tree lighting Dec. 3; experts available for early holiday topics

Dec. 2, 2024

MILWAUKEE - Marquette University will host its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 3, beginning at 5 p.m. in the Gratitude Garden outside St. Joan of Arc Chapel.

The campus community will gather to kick off the Christmas season at the annual tree lighting early Tuesday evening. Carols will be sung and played by the Marquette Band and a newly formed All-Campus Choir, which includes members of the Marquette Chorus, Gospel Choir, Liturgical Choir, the Naturals, The Meladies and the Gold n' Blues.

After carols, Marquette President Kimo Ah Yun and Rev. John Thiede, S.J., vice president for mission and ministry, will deliver remarks before lighting the tree.

Rev. Ryan Duns, S.J., chair and associate professor of theology, will be available for interviews at the Christmas tree lighting.

The Christmas tree lighting is open to the public, but we ask media to RSVP in advance to help coordinate interviews and coverage.

Parking: St. Joan of Arc Chapel is located on Marquette's Central Mall and is accessible via Clybourn Street from the south, 16th Street from the west and Wisconsin Avenue from the north. Parking is available in the 16th Street Parking Structure (749 N. 16th St.). A map of the visitor parking structures can be found here.\

Experts

A full holiday experts advisory will be shared in the monthly Marquette Briefing and as a stand-alone advisory at later dates, but with Advent getting underway this week and Christmas shopping top of mind for consumers, experts are available to speak on these topics.

• History of Advent: Rev. John Laurance, S.J., associate professor emeritus of theology, can be reached via email at [email protected]. (Father Laurance serves as the men's basketball team chaplain. Please consult the team game schedule before reaching out.)
• Holiday shopping and retail trends surrounding the holidays: Dr. Alex Milovic, associate professor of practice for marketing, can be reached via email at [email protected].

If you do not receive the monthly Marquette Briefing and would like to receive experts, story ideas and university events for the month ahead, contact Kevin Conway at [email protected].