Westmont Celebrates the Christmas Season

Hundreds of students, alumni and neighbors donning mittens and scarves will celebrate the start of the Christmas season at the fourth annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Westmont’s Kerrwood Lawn next week. The 70-foot redwood tree on the lawn will come aglow at 5 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 30.

Santa Claus will stop by for free pictures with kids inside Kerrwood hall. Warm apple cider and cookies will also be available.

Westmont alumni are invited to mingle in the president’s office at 4:30 p.m. before the tree lighting ceremony.

When lit, the giant tree on Kerrwood Lawn is said to resemble a cucumber and has become affectionately known by students and neighbors as “the giant pickle.”

The ceremony will include joyous carols sung by the Westmont Gospel Choir and a short speech on the tradition of the tree lighting ceremony by Professor Russell Smelley. A student committee chooses a secret person each year to flip the switch to officially light “the giant pickle.”

For more information call Pamela Arneson at 565-7350. For directions to campus, please visit the college Web site at www.westmont.edu.