Sweet Briar College celebrates the season with annual events

Posted on November 22, 2019 by Amy Ostroth


A Sweet Briar rider on her horse at the 2018 tree lighting. A Sweet Briar rider on her horse at the 2018 tree lighting.


Each year, Sweet Briar College celebrates the holiday season with events that have become community favorites.

The season will kick off with the College’s Holiday Tree Lighting at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 4, in the Quad. Students, faculty and staff light the tree, sing carols and enjoy cocoa. The festive tradition is one of the few times students are allowed to ride horses on the quad. Before leaving the stables, riders dress the horses for the season, accessorizing their tack with ribbons and lights.

Those off campus can watch the action live on the Sweet Briar College Now and Forever Facebook page.

At 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8, at Holiday Pops, the Sweet Briar Community Choir will lead a sing-a-long featuring their favorite songs of the season. Vespers, the traditional community lessons-and-carols service, will follow.

On Monday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m., the Sweet Tones, the College’s a cappella group, will present their winter concert, featuring songs they’ve been working on this semester, in addition to solo and small group songs prepared by individual members.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit sbc.edu/calendar-of-events.