By Kaye Burnet | The Duquesne Duke
Duquesne’s 17th annual Night of Lights will take place on Thursday to ring in the holiday season.
The evening will begin with Christmas caroling outside the Student Union on Academic Walk by Duquesne’s Chapel Choir. SGA President Attila Mihalik said the caroling will start at 4:30 p.m. and end when the lights come on at 5:15 p.m.
Following that, Duquesne’s Encore Show Choir will provide live entertainment in the Union Ballroom as Christmas Dinner is served from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Dinner is $9, and meal swipes will be accepted, according to SGA Vice President of Student Life and event organizer Hally Ramirez.
“There will also be a raffle where you can buy tickets to win, and a silent auction,” Ramirez said.
The raffle and silent auction will take place in “Santa’s Workshop” in the Africa Room of the Union. There, attendees can participate in craft making sponsored by various Duquesne organizations, including Alpha Gamma Delta and the Integrated Honors Society.
Santa will also be present to pose for pictures. Santa’s Workshop will be open from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
There will be free hot chocolate and cookies offered throughout the evening, as well as free carriage rides on Academic Walk, according to Ramirez. The carriage rides will be provided by Mike’s Carriage Service, and are paid for by Alumni Relations.
At 7 p.m., more live entertainment will be provided by the Duquesne Tamburitzans, who will perform in the Ballroom.
Many local businesses, including the Benedum Center, the Original Oyster House, Phipps Conservatory and the Milkshake Factory, have donated items and gift cards to the raffle and auction.
All proceeds will be donated to Autism Speaks, an organization dedicated to research and advocacy on behalf of those diagnosed with autism. Last year, the SGA was able to raise nearly $3,000 for the group, according to Mihalik.
