By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
This weekend begins one of the most beloved holiday traditions for Northfield residents and many nationwide, the St. Olaf Christmas Festival. After being at Orchestra Hall for the last two years the festival is returning to Northfield for the weekend. The Festival, which started in 1912, has since grown to include 500 student musicians in five different choirs and orchestras. Over 9,000 guests will attend the concert and other special events, and the concert is broadcast on radio stations across the United States. Among the events happening at the festival are several smaller performances by the Noresmand Band, the St. Olaf Handbell Choir, and the St. Olaf band.
The main event is the three performances of the festival. Friday’s performance is at 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday’s are at 3 p.m. The performances take place in Skoglund Auditorium at St. Olaf. Tickets for the festival are currently sold out. The event is a collection of Advent and Christmas compositions along with familiar carols and hymns from around the world, providing eternal messages of hope, peace, and healing.
For those who miss the performance or are out of town, there will be several options to watch or listen to later. An internet streaming option will be available to watch the Sunday performance (at 3 p.m.). St. Olaf will post a video recording on December 18th, which will be a selection of the best songs from each performance. On Christmas Eve evening, KYMN will air a special episode of Sing For Joy, which airs regularly on Sundays at 8am; the program is a half-hour show featuring highlights of the music from the festival.
Learn more about the event at: https://christmas.stolaf.edu/
Additional events (All of these events are free and open to the public):
- Norseman Band Christmas Singalong
December 6 at 4:30 p.m. in Boe Chapel - Christmas Bells by the St. Olaf Handbell Choirs
December 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the second level of Buntrock Commons - Sunday Service Featuring Music by the St. Olaf Band
December 8 at 10:30 a.m. in Boe Chapel (Streamed live online)
