‘A Xavier Christmas’ welcomes children to campus

Norwood school children among special guests

Xavier University once again kicks off the holiday season with ‘A Xavier Christmas’ on Wednesday, December 7.

Around 180 elementary school students from Hoffman-Parham, Frederick Douglass, Sharpsburg, Williams, South Avondale, and Norwood View schools will be special guests of the University and will be accompanied by more than 180 Xavier Buddies (students). The children will have an opportunity to meet Santa Claus, see a live nativity scene and partake in various crafts and activities.

Xavier University’s Father Al Bischoff, S.J. will join the participants at the Sally Watson Tree outside the new Fenwick Place residence hall for a special tree lighting ceremony. Xavier’s Physical Plant staff always creates a breathtaking lighting display. Xavier's men's a cappella group, Harmon-X, will perform.

Xavier faculty, students and staff have collected new hats and gloves to be distributed to the children in attendance and sent to other children in need.
The schedule is:

2:30 p.m.: Children from elementary schools begin arriving at Cintas Center for pizza and pictures with Santa.
4:00 p.m.: Children and their Xavier student buddies will play games and do crafts
5:30 p.m.: Nativity scene featuring live animals on the Xavier Yard near Bellarmine Chapel, as well as cookies and hot chocolate.
6:00 p.m.: Tree lighting ceremony in front of the Gallagher Student Center with Fr. Bischoff.
6:15 p.m.: Elementary school children depart.

In the event of rain, there will be no Nativity scene and no formal outdoor tree lighting. Events will continue inside the Cintas Center.