SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The sights, the sounds and the aromas of the holidays will be evident Friday evening, Dec. 3, as the community is invited to Wittenberg University to enjoy the traditional campus tree lighting ceremony, a holiday buffet and the Service of Lessons and Carols for Advent and Christmas later in Weaver Chapel. This event continues a time-honored tradition at Wittenberg and transforms the campus into what could be the cover of a beautiful holiday greeting card.

The public tree lighting ceremony will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Alumni Way. Complimentary warm beverages will be served, and Wittenberg's a cappella singing groups Wittman Crew and Just Eve will perform as people gather around the Christmas tree.

At 6 p.m., a buffet dinner will be offered for $15 per person in 105 Shouvlin Center. For dinner reservations, call (937) 327-6405 by Monday, Nov. 29. The tree lighting ceremony and the holiday buffet dinner are hosted by the Office of Alumni Relations.

The Service of Lessons and Carols for Advent and Christmas will begin with pre-service music at 7:30 p.m. in Weaver Chapel. Beginning at 8 p.m. the Wittenberg Choir, Wittenberg Handbell Choir, Wittenberg Singers and the Wittenberg Brass Ensemble will perform. One of Wittenberg's oldest traditions, this annual candlelight service is presented by more than 100 students, faculty and staff and begins in darkness with the introductory Service to Light and concludes with the candlelight singing of "Silent Night."

For more information, contact Weaver Chapel, (937) 327-7411. All events on campus are free with the exception of the dinner buffet.

On Thursday, Dec. 9, a not-so-traditional holiday celebration is planned for the young and the young at heart when Wittenberg's Office of Alumni Relations hosts a celebration at Wild Lights at the Columbus Zoo from 6 to 9 p.m. This event will include the zoo admission, dinner buffet and each participant will receive 'creature cash' which can be used for carousel and carriage rides, ice skating rental, park refreshments or baking cookies with Mrs. Claus.

This festive celebration is open to all Wittenberg friends, faculty, staff, students, alumni and their families. Tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for children 16 and younger, and children under the age of 2 are admitted free. Wittenberg guests with a Columbus Zoo membership will receive a $5 discount on adult admission and a $2 discount for a child admission.

Past reviews of The Columbus Zoo holiday lights display often include the words spectacular, breathtaking and stunning. The zoo is located at 9990 Riverside Drive in Powell, Ohio. For reservations to Wittenberg's Wild Lights holiday celebration call (937) 327-7414 by Wednesday, Dec. 1.