ETSU hosting variety of arts and other events in December
Students work diligently to finish the semester’s projects and study for finals. People throughout the region decorate their homes and businesses for the season and search for the perfect gifts for loved ones as the holidays approach. East Tennessee State University is gearing up for the biggest day of the semester – Commencement – but offers plenty of additional activities for students and the community in the month of December!
The following listing includes events that are open to the public and are free unless otherwise noted:
Music
ETSU BLUE Down Home Takeover
December 2-6, 7 p.m. each evening – Down Home, 300 W. Main Street
This five-night musical event showcases all the bands in ETSU’s Bluegrass, Old-Time
and Roots Music Studies program, which includes not only bluegrass and old-time ensembles,
but country, a cappella and Celtic groups, as well. Tickets are $15 at the door; ETSU
students with ID receive a discount.
Holiday Concert: ‘For Auld Lang Syne’
December 7, performances at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. – ETSU Foundation Grand Hall, Martin
Center for the Arts
Over 250 performers will take part in this beloved ETSU holiday tradition, including
the ETSU Chorale, BucsWorth, East Tennessee Belles, Greyscale, Ascension, Percussion
Ensemble and Faculty Brass Quintet, along with special guests Matthew Fisher, organ,
and Joanna Seiber, harp. Tickets are $15-$25; free for ETSU students with ID.
Theater/Cinema
Bud Frank Cinema First Friday Screening: ‘Flow’
December 6, 7 p.m. – Bud Frank Theatre, Gilbreath Hall
The Bud Frank Cinema’s First Friday Screening on Dec. 6 is “Flow,” a 2024 French film
which opens for wide release the same day. “A wondrous journey, through realms natural
and mystical, ‘Flow’ follows a courageous cat after his home is devastated by a great
flood.”
Bud Frank Cinema Film Screening: ‘Seven Samurai’
December 13, 7 p.m. – Bud Frank Theatre, Gilbreath Hall
The Bud Frank Cinema and Tri-City Film Farm present a restoration of “Seven Samurai,”
a 1954 film from Japan that tells the story of a 16th-century village whose desperate
inhabitants hire seven samurai warriors to protect them from invading bandits.
‘A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage’
December 17, 7 p.m. – ETSU Foundation Grand Hall, Martin Center for the Arts
The timeless, award-winning animated television special by Charles M. Schulz comes
to life in this faithful stage adaptation the whole family can enjoy. After the final
bow, the audience is invited to join the Peanuts gang in singing traditional Christmas
songs and carols. Tickets are $49.50-$139; limited seating is available.
Fine Arts
‘Stitch Together: The Social Seamstress in Southern Appalachia’
Continuing through January 10, 2025, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday – Reece Museum
The Reece Museum hosts this exhibit exploring the social connections of seamstresses
by showcasing the fashion and clothing of the museum’s permanent collection.
Holiday Fun and More
Ice Skating at ETSU
Various hours, Thursdays-Sundays through December 21 – University Commons
ETSU’s beloved synthetic ice skating rink is open for the holiday season. This year,
in partnership with Brightspeed, the rink is free to ETSU students, faculty and staff
with valid ID and open to the community with a $5 skate rental for all ages. Hours
are Thursdays and Fridays from 5-9 p.m., Saturdays from noon-7 p.m., and Sundays from
2-7 p.m.
Great Lecture Series
December 6, 2 p.m. – East Tennessee Room, D.P. Culp Student Center
The Great Lecture Series celebrates and showcases ETSU faculty who have recently been
promoted to full professor, giving them an opportunity to share their work with the
broader community. Attendees of this installment will hear from Drs. Brian Johnston,
John Rankin and Megan Quinn.
Jacob’s Nature Park: As We See It!
December 7, 1-2:30 p.m. – Jacob’s Nature Park at Sinking Creek, 1919 Ocala Street
This event for the community features five 15-minute presentations by ETSU students
on park-specific topics, such as poisonous plants, mushroom coolness, pollinator trivia
and more. Interactive activities, games, giveaways and hands-on learning opportunities
for all ages are included.
ETSU Fall Commencement
December 14, 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. – Ballad Health Athletic Center (Mini-Dome)
ETSU celebrates its fall 2024 graduating class in two ceremonies (10 a.m. – Quillen
College of Medicine, College of Public Health, College of Health Sciences and College
of Arts and Sciences; and 2:30 p.m. – Clemmer College of Education and Human Development,
College of Business and Technology and College of Nursing). Complete information for
graduating students, guests and faculty is available on the Commencement website,
etsu.edu/commencement, where livestreaming will be offered for those not attending in person.
ETSU Alumni Arctic Adventures: Frost and Fun Skate Night
December 19, 5-8:30 p.m. – University Commons
The ETSU Alumni Association presents an evening of Frost and Fun at the ETSU synthetic
ice skating rink sponsored by Brightspeed. Participants can enjoy popcorn and hot
cocoa inside the first-floor lobby of the D.P. Culp Student Center, as well as limited-edition
T-shirts, a visit from Bucky, giveaways and holiday music.
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To learn more about these and other events happening at ETSU, visit the university’s online calendar at etsu.edu/calendar/default.php. For disability accommodations, contact Disability Services at (423) 439-8346.
East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.
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