Holiday – College Admission at Loyola

Christmas at LUC

By Husna Afzal | November 30, 2016

There are endless ways to enjoy the holidays on campus and around Chicago! Grabs your coats, scarves and gloves and join us the Loyola alumni, staff, and students in some holiday fun!

Damen Student Center tree lighting
Dec. 1, 5 p.m.
Start the Christmas season at Loyola with the annual tree lighting celebration in the Damen Student Center.

Caroling at Cloud Gate
Fridays through Dec. 16
Bundle up and get ready to belt out some holiday classics during Caroling at Cloud Gate in Millennium Park. This festive series is part concert, part sing-along at the world-famous Cloud Gate sculpture, also known as “The Bean.” 201 E. Randolph St.

Lincoln Park Zoo Lights
Dec. 2-4, 9-23, 26-31; Jan. 1
Head to the Lincoln Park Zoo for a fun, free, family-oriented holiday celebration, featuring luminous displays and holiday activities throughout the grounds. 2200 N. Stockton Drive.

Polar Palooza
Dec. 3, 12 – 8 p.m.
Dec. 4, 12 – 6 p.m.
Polar Palooza, the annual two-day outdoor winter festival for Chicago’s North Side neighborhoods, is back and co-hosted by Loyola University Chicago, the Rogers Park Business Alliance, the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce, and Alderman Joe Moore of the 49th Ward. Enjoy food from local restaurants, live music, synthetic skating, a meet-and-greet with Santa, and—on Sunday—a visit from a live reindeer. New attractions this year include a beer garden, holiday movies at The New 400 Movie Theater, and a merry-go-round. 6601 N. Sheridan Road.

Loyola Gives
Operated in conjunction with the Catholic Charities: Sponsor-A-Family program, Loyola Gives sponsors families by raising funds and purchasing needed items and gifts for the holidays.
• Gift drop-off
Water Tower Campus: Dec. 6., Baumhart Hall, Terry Student Center Lobby
Health Sciences Campus: Dec. 7., Cuneo Center, Room 270
Lake Shore Campus: Dec. 8., Damen Student Center, Atrium

Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Dec. 8, 5:15 – 6 p.m.
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is a holy day for those who follow the Catholic tradition. Come celebrate Mass at Madonna della Strada Chapel.

Joyola!
Dec. 8, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Joyola! returns this season for a grandiose evening of holiday celebration showcasing a mix of sacred and secular works. The night will feature performances by the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Women’s Chorus, University Chorale, Chamber Choir, and Jazz Ensemble. Mundelein Center. 1020 W. Sheridan Road.

Desserts in December
Dec. 9, 5 – 7 p.m.
Need a break from studying or just a few sweets in your life? Students, faculty, and staff are invited to Student Diversity and Multicultural Affairs’s annual event for holiday treats. Damen Student Center, Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM, Multipurpose Room.

Advent Vespers
Dec. 10, 5 p.m.
Join Mundelein alumnae and friends to celebrate this Advent-Christmas season. We will begin the evening with our tradition of Advent Vespers followed by a reception, and then we will enjoy Lessons and Carols, the Christmas mystery presented in song and scripture. Piper Hall.

Lessons and Carols
Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 11, 3 p.m.
Loyola’s most popular holiday event returns. In the tradition of A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, the world-renowned Christmas Eve worship service at King’s College Chapel, this service features a series of lessons juxtaposed with liturgical music performed by the University’s choral ensembles. Madonna della Strada Chapel.

Finals Breakfast
Dec. 13, 9 p.m.
This free late-night breakfast for students is a Finals Week tradition at Loyola. Finals Breakfast provides students a chance to take a study break, refuel, and catch up with friends before the last stretch of exams. Faculty and staff serve students meals to provide support and boost morale during this stressful time of the semester. Gentile Arena.

Breakfast with Santa
Dec. 17, 9 a.m.
Hosted by GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade), this event features a morning of crafts and activities to celebrate the holidays. A continental breakfast will be provided and Santa will be ready for pictures. Please bring an unwrapped toy to donate to Family Matters of Rogers Park. Damen Student Center, Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM, Multipurpose Room.

Christkindlmarket Chicago
Through Dec. 24
Each year, people from all over the world visit the Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago. The unique shopping experience—paired with traditional German food, drinks, and entertainment—makes the market a must-see for the holidays. 50 W. Washington St.

Winter WonderFest
Through Jan. 8
For the 16th year in a row, families from near and far will flock to Navy Pier and bask in seasonal bliss without bundling up. The PNC Bank Winter WonderFest returns with more than 24 rides and attractions and 170,000 square feet of indoor entertainment for all ages. 600 E. Grand Ave.

Christmas Around the World & Holidays of Light
Through Jan. 8
This holiday staple at the Museum of Science and Industry features international Christmas decorations—and even indoor “snow.” Guests can celebrate festive traditions from around the globe with a forest of beautifully adorned trees, each one decorated by local volunteers from Chicago’s diverse communities. 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive.

‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’
Through Jan. 8
Tis the season to celebrate everyone’s favorite “Peanuts” pals as they dig past the commercialized gimmicks of presents and decorations to rediscover the true meaning of Christmas. Through a pageant and a spindly tree, Charlie Brown and friends bring the holiday spirit back to life for families once again. Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St.

Ice skating at Millennium Park
Through March 5
The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park kicks off the winter season with skating and special programming. Admission is free and open to the public, with skate rentals available for $12. Michigan Avenue between Washington Street and Madison Street.

The Holiday Season is Here

By | December 8, 2015

Although we have not had much snow yet, many festivities have happened here at Loyola University to ring in the holiday spirit! When you set foot on campus, you will see tons of fresh beautiful trees decorated with lights and ornaments as well as garland and wreaths. Without a doubt, when snow comes, our campus will look so beautiful.

Last week, Loyola had their 2nd annual tree lighting in Damen! Along with the lights, Loyola students celebrated by skating on the synthetic ice rink located adjacent to the tree. Hot chocolate was served and Santa made his appearance! Holiday music was played and without a doubt, people enjoyed themselves and began to feel the spirit of Christmas. The day after that, LUC’s orchestra, jazz ensemble, and choir came together for their biggest concert, Joyola. Christmas songs were performed in unique melodies and harmonies- it is something I recommend seeing (for next year).

Throughout the week, the Student Hub, located in Sullivan Center, had free hot chocolate available to the students! The people of the Hub wanted to wish the students well as they prepared for the finals in the upcoming week.

On the weekend, Polar Palooza kicked off the holiday season by offering the residents of Rogers Park (and the general public), more synthetic ice skating, live music, hot chocolate, and a variety of vendors selling holiday nick-naks and food (of course).

There’s a lot of fun things that happen around Loyola University! There’s always something to do and keep you on your feet and enjoying yourself. You’ll never get bored living in the city and the things that happen around Loyola University Chicago!

St. Patrick’s Day

By | March 19, 2013

St. Patrick’s day in Chicago is the best! At home, St. Patrick’s day comes and goes with an article of green clothing and maybe some green eggs. But in Chicago, it’s a whole different story.

We celebrated it on Saturday instead of Sunday. My day started when I woke up at 7:30 am to start getting ready for the day. I dressed up in my best green gear and, unfortunately, had to grab my coat and mittens because it was so cold! I headed over to a friends apartment for some St. Patrick’s day breakfast. We had scrambled eggs (unfortunately not green), bacon, french toast casserole and blueberry muffins. It was a feast!

We left his apartment around 9:15 am to head downtown for the dying of the river at 10:00 am. The Chicago river is dyed green every year to celebrate the holiday. In case you have never seen it in person, it is not a murky, dark green like you may be thinking. It is a vibrant, bright green. I marvel at its color every year and how they manage to get it to be such a bright color continues to be a mystery to me.

After the dying of the river, we warmed up a little in a coffee shop before heading to the parade. I can not believe how many people showed up for the parade! Downtown was so crowed but so awesome. Everyone was in green and in a great mood.

By the end of the parade, we were exhausted and hungry. So we jumped on the El and headed back towards Rogers Park. We stopped at Aldi on the way home and made ourselves a (not very Irish) lunch of turkey tacos. We were pooped and ready for a nap after our late lunch.

Needless to say, it was so much fun celebrating St. Patricks day here in Chicago. If you don’t believe me, just look at some of the awesome pictures we took during the day!