For the second year, Associated Students of California Baptist University (ASCBU) will bring a white Christmas to students.
The 2011 Christmas Tree Lighting Party will be held Thurs., Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. on the front lawn.
ASCBU partners with the Alumni Association to host this event for students, staff, faculty and alumni.
This year’s party has different main events, but the purpose remains the same.
“It is a new upcoming CBU tradition that is in place to unify the student body during the Christmas season,” Candace Bell, ASCBU vice president of communications, said.
The most notable addition to the event is the Battle of the Bands competition. This will serve as the main form of entertainment at the party, as four student-led bands perform Christmas songs in an attempt to entertain the audience and win a cash prize.
“We wanted something new and different for the ASCBU Christmas party that would highlight the talents of our student body,” Hannah DeFord, ASCBU vice president of office affairs, said.
There are several activitie featured this year that played a prominent role in last year’s event. These include: a Christmas story read by president Ellis, the lighting of the Christmas tree, a gingerbread house decorating station, ugly Christmas sweater contest and, most notably, snow.
As part of an effort to make everything about the party bigger and better this year, ASCBU purchased nearly three times the amount of snow as last year. The increased amount of snow will allow for three sledding hills and a separate snow “play area.”
“Snow is a fun part of the Christmas experience that Riverside residents do not often get to experience,” DeFord said.
Another addition to this year’s event is the inclusion of a giant gingerbread house. CBU’s catering partner, Provider Contract Food Service, will provide the house as a photo booth backdrop where attendees can have their pictures taken as a way to remember the night. ASCBU will post all pictures to their Facebook page following the event.
Musical entertainment will continue throughout the night. In addition to the competing bands, a faculty band, led by Jeff Mooney, will perform. The Monday/Friday chapel band will serve as the house band.
“I am excited for the students to see which faculty members are in the band and showcase their talents, and I always enjoy seeing the chapel band play,” Natalie Ostrosky, ASCBU vice president of finance, said.
ASCBU and Provider will also be serving churros, individually wrapped and decorated Christmas cookies, hot cocoa and hot cider. Customized Christmas tree ornaments will be handed out as well.
“I am really excited for the Battle of the Bands and the awesome amount of snow we will have this year. The event is going to be a lot bigger and better,” Ostrosky said.
