All events are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.
Thursday, November 30
Lighting of the MHU Christmas Tree
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Upper Quad
Students, faculty, staff and community join together in this family-friendly kick off to the Christmas season, featuring hot chocolate, musical performances, and a special guest. Sponsored by the Student Government Association, Campus Activities Board, and the President’s Office.
The Great American Trailer Park Musical
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Owen Theatre
Presented by the MHU Department of Theatre Arts. Music and lyrics by David Nehls; book by Betsy Kelso. (** This show is not suitable for children under 13.) Tickets are $15 for adults; $12 for seniors and non-MHU students (cash or check, only). The box office is located in Day Hall and is open from 3-5 p.m. on weekdays.
Friday, December 1
Christmas Concert
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Moore Auditorium
The Mars Hill University Department of Music presents its annual concert of Christmas music featuring both vocal and instrumental pieces by small and large ensembles.
Saturday, December 2
Bailey Mountain Cloggers Christmas Performance & Silent Auction
Time: Silent Auction – 3:00 p.m. Performance – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Moore Auditorium
The award-winning Bailey Mountain Cloggers perform their annual Christmas show and host a silent auction. Admission is $5.00.
The Great American Trailer Park Musical
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Owen Theatre
Presented by the MHU Department of Theatre Arts. Music and lyrics by David Nehls; book by Betsy Kelso. (** This show is not suitable for children under 13.) Tickets are $15 for adults; $12 for seniors and non-MHU students (cash or check, only). The box office is located in Day Hall and is open from 3-5 p.m. on weekdays.
Sunday, December 3
The Great American Trailer Park Musical
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Location: Owen Theatre
Presented by the MHU Department of Theatre Arts. Music and lyrics by David Nehls; book by Betsy Kelso. (** This show is not suitable for children under 13.) Tickets are $15 for adults; $12 for seniors and non-MHU students (cash or check, only). The box office is located in Day Hall and is open from 3-5 p.m. on weekdays.
MHU Gospel Choir Concert
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Broyhill Chapel
The MHU Gospel Choir brings joy to the season with the sound of uplifting Gospel music. Join in an evening of song and praise. Event sponsored by the Mars Hill University Gospel Choir and the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs.
Monday, December 4
Lessons and Carols
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Broyhill Chapel
An evening of Christmas carols and selected Scripture readings to bring hope and light to a weary world. Refreshments in Bentley Fellowship Hall following the service. Sponsored by the Chaplains’ Office.
Tuesday, December 5
Crossroads Chapel Service
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Broyhill Chapel
Senior convocation: student speakers and awards for the December 2017 graduating class.
Puppy Day
Time: 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Bentley Fellowship Hall
Rescued puppies will be available for “puppy time” for students to cuddle to relieve stress on the day before final exams begin, and to help socialize the puppies for easier adoption to loving homes. 15 minutes of puppy time is $3 and 30 minutes is $5. All proceeds go to help these rescued animals receive medical care and food/supplies so they can get adopted into “forever” homes.
Late Night Breakfast
Time: 8:30-10:30 p.m.
Location: Pittman Dining Hall.
This event features breakfast served by faculty and staff, music, dancing, prizes, crafts, and a whole lot of stress-relieving fun! Sponsored by the Mars Hill University Campus Activities Board and Chartwells Food Service.
Thursday, December 7
Christmas Dinner at the Caf
Time: 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Location: Pittman Dining Hall.
The menu features turkey and all the trimmings as well as vegetarian and vegan options. Open to the public. Cost is $10.13. Sponsored by Chartwells Food Service.
Friday, December 8
Winter’s Tune
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Broyhill Chapel
Award-winning duo Zoe & Cloyd will be joined by Lillian Chase and Rhiannon Ramsey for old-time fiddling and mountain harmonies. Tickets are $16 in advance and $18 at the door. Special pricing for senior citizens, military, and MHU employees. MHU students are free with ID card. For more information, call (828) 689-1115 or email lweinstein@mhu.edu. Sponsored by the Liston B. Ramsey Center for Regional Studies.
Thursday, December 14
Smoke on the Mountain: Sanders Family Christmas
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Owen Theatre
Presented by the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre (SART). Sanders Family Christmas is the sequel to the wildly successful Smoke on the Mountain. Join the Sanders family as they send one of their own off to war in 1941 with hilarious and touching stories and twenty-five Southern Gospel Christmas favorites. Sponsored by Madison County Tourism Development Authority, the Town of Mars Hill, and Dr. Doug Hauschild of Weaverville Eye Associates. Tickets are $25 (with taxes and fee), and $20 for groups of 10 or more (with taxes and fee), available online at sartplays.com or at (866) 811-4111.
Friday, December 15
Graduation
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Moore Auditorium
Degrees will be conferred on approximately 65 students who have completed degree requirements in summer or fall 2017. An honorary doctorate of humane letters will be presented to Michael Blackwell, president/CEO of Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina. Keynote speaker will be A. Hope Williams, retired president of North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities.
Smoke on the Mountain: Sanders Family Christmas
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Owen Theatre
Presented by the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre (SART). Sanders Family Christmas is the sequel to the wildly successful Smoke on the Mountain. Join the Sanders family as they send one of their own off to war in 1941 with hilarious and touching stories and twenty-five Southern Gospel Christmas favorites. Sponsored by Madison County Tourism Development Authority, the Town of Mars Hill, and Dr. Doug Hauschild of Weaverville Eye Associates. Tickets are $25 (with taxes and fee), and $20 for groups of 10 or more (with taxes and fee), available online at sartplays.com or at (866) 811-4111.
Saturday, December 16
Smoke on the Mountain: Sanders Family Christmas
Time: 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Location: Owen Theatre
Presented by the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre (SART). Sanders Family Christmas is the sequel to the wildly successful Smoke on the Mountain. Join the Sanders family as they send one of their own off to war in 1941 with hilarious and touching stories and twenty-five Southern Gospel Christmas favorites. Sponsored by Madison County Tourism Development Authority, the Town of Mars Hill, and Dr. Doug Hauschild of Weaverville Eye Associates. Tickets are $25 (with taxes and fee), and $20 for groups of 10 or more (with taxes and fee), available online at sartplays.com or at (866) 811-4111.
Sunday, December 17
Smoke on the Mountain: Sanders Family Christmas
Time: 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Location: Owen Theatre
Presented by the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre (SART). Sanders Family Christmas is the sequel to the wildly successful Smoke on the Mountain. Join the Sanders family as they send one of their own off to war in 1941 with hilarious and touching stories and twenty-five Southern Gospel Christmas favorites. Sponsored by Madison County Tourism Development Authority, the Town of Mars Hill, and Dr. Doug Hauschild of Weaverville Eye Associates. Tickets are $25 (with taxes and fee), and $20 for groups of 10 or more (with taxes and fee), available online at sartplays.com or at (866) 811-4111.
Thursday, December 21
Smoke on the Mountain: Sanders Family Christmas
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Owen Theatre
Presented by the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre (SART). Sanders Family Christmas is the sequel to the wildly successful Smoke on the Mountain. Join the Sanders family as they send one of their own off to war in 1941 with hilarious and touching stories and twenty-five Southern Gospel Christmas favorites. Sponsored by Madison County Tourism Development Authority, the Town of Mars Hill, and Dr. Doug Hauschild of Weaverville Eye Associates. Tickets are $25 (with taxes and fee), and $20 for groups of 10 or more (with taxes and fee), available online at sartplays.com or at (866) 811-4111.
Friday, December 22
Smoke on the Mountain: Sanders Family Christmas
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Owen Theatre
Presented by the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre (SART). Sanders Family Christmas is the sequel to the wildly successful Smoke on the Mountain. Join the Sanders family as they send one of their own off to war in 1941 with hilarious and touching stories and twenty-five Southern Gospel Christmas favorites. Sponsored by Madison County Tourism Development Authority, the Town of Mars Hill, and Dr. Doug Hauschild of Weaverville Eye Associates. Tickets are $25 (with taxes and fee), and $20 for groups of 10 or more (with taxes and fee), available online at sartplays.com or at (866) 811-4111.
Saturday, December 23
Smoke on the Mountain: Sanders Family Christmas
Time: 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Location: Owen Theatre
Presented by the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre (SART). Sanders Family Christmas is the sequel to the wildly successful Smoke on the Mountain. Join the Sanders family as they send one of their own off to war in 1941 with hilarious and touching stories and twenty-five Southern Gospel Christmas favorites. Sponsored by Madison County Tourism Development Authority, the Town of Mars Hill, and Dr. Doug Hauschild of Weaverville Eye Associates. Tickets are $25 (with taxes and fee), and $20 for groups of 10 or more (with taxes and fee), available online at sartplays.com or at (866) 811-4111.
Ongoing:
Minstrel of Appalachia Exhibit
Exhibit runs through December 15
Location: Ramsey Center for Regional Studies (Renfro Library building) This event begins the week-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Lunsford Festival with the opening of a brand new exhibition, “Minstrel of Appalachia: The Life and Legacy of Bascom Lamar Lunsford,” a selection of artifacts and photographs curated from the Ramsey Center’s Southern Appalachian Archives.
The Civil War In the Southern Highlands: A Human Perspective Exhibit runs through March 4, 2018 Rural Heritage Museum This exhibition presents an account, using rare original letters and newly-discovered documents, of the personal struggles of the people living in Madison County and the Southern Appalachian Mountains during the middle of the 19th century. Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and by appointment.