Cottey festivities begin Friday with annual Hanging of the Greens

Holiday events and festivities at Cottey College are in the works, and celebrations begin with the Hanging of the Greens celebration. The two-part festivity includes the Hanging of the Greens on Friday, Dec. 7, beginning at 7 p.m., in the chapel. A semi-formal dance slated for 9 p.m.-midnight, Dec. 8, in Hinkhouse Center continues the holiday themed celebration.

The Hanging of the Greens is one of Cottey's oldest and most special traditions, a press release said, consisting of a candlelight chapel service followed by caroling and decorating the campus with handmade evergreen wreaths.

The chapel service is free and open to the public.

In keeping with the charitable aspect of the season, Cottey students will go caroling for canned goods in area neighborhoods, Mon-day and Tuesday, Dec. 10 and 11, 6-8:30 p.m.

According to the press release, Cottey's trick-or-treating for canned goods in October was so successful, students wanted to contribute again to the community at the holiday season. All donations will be given to Community Outreach, the local food pantry in Nevada.

Canned fruit and vegetables are a staple, but macaroni and cheese dinners, canned meats such as tuna, and even staples such as peanut butter are a welcome addition to the Community Outreach pantry.

Those requesting more information, or who have a donation they want to ensure is picked up, should contact Sarah Stone at (417) 667-6333, ext. 4109.

Holiday events continue with a trio of concerts at Cottey College.

An informal dance concert will begin on Wednesday at 7 p.m., in the auditorium of the Haidee and Allen Wild Center for the Arts. Immediately following the dance concert, the instrumental music concert is scheduled in the Missouri Recital Hall at 8 p.m.

On Thursday, Dec. 13, the informal choir concert will be held at 5:30 p.m., in Raney Dining Room.

The informal dance concert will feature performances from the dance classes and from the Cottey Repertory Dance Company. The instrumental music concert features the Cottey College Wind and Jazz Ensembles, directed by Gary Johnson.

The informal Christmas choir concert will feature Cottey Pops Choir and the Chamber Singers. The choir concert will have an appealing mix of classic and contemporary Christmas tunes. As an addition to the choir concert, the audience will be encouraged to sing along to everyone's favorite Christ-mas songs.

There is also no charge for these three concerts, and all are open to the public.

The Recital Hall is located in the Center for the Arts, on the northeast corner of Austin Boulevard and Tower Street. Raney Dining Room is located in the lower level of Robertson Hall.

Visitors are to enter through the front doors on the east side of Robertson Hall.