Celebrate the Season!

Make ETSU part of your holiday traditions.

 

The holidays are a magical time of year at East Tennessee State University, and we invite you to celebrate with us! From family activities to stocking stuffers, from holiday concerts to festive playlists, ETSU can help make the season bright.

Family Activities

 

The Holiday Lights

ETSU kicked off the holiday season with its annual holiday lights celebration on Monday, Nov. 13. The community is invited to campus to enjoy the lights throughout the season. This map shows the location of the lights on campus.

ETSU Ice Skating Rink

ETSU Ice Skating Rink

Join us for some fun on ice! ETSU’s 70-foot-long synthetic ice rink will open on Nov. 13, 2023, as we countdown to turn on the holiday lights on campus. Then, enjoy Bucky's Blizzard Second Annual Block Party on November 16, from 5-9 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. The rink is located on the ETSU University Commons, adjacent to the D.P. Culp Student Center. More information coming soon. Visit the rink's webpage for a complete list of times and rates.

 

Holiday Concert

ETSU Holiday Concert with chroir singing.

Join the ETSU Department of Music for their much anticipated annual holiday concert. This event will be held in the Martin Center for the Arts Grand Hall on Saturday, December 2, with two performances, 4:00 pm and 7:30 pm. It is recommended to purchase tickets for this event in advance, but there will also be tickets available at the door.

 

Jingle Bell Jazz

Jingle Bell Jazz graphic featuring Santa playing the saxaphone.

The ETSU Jazz Ensemble gives their much anticipated Holiday concert. This event will be held on Friday, December 8, 2023, at 7:30 pm in the Martin Center for the Arts Grand Hall. You can look forward to hearing some of your favorite jazzy holiday songs performed during this special yearly concert.

 

Tickets for this event can be purchased online here, or at the box office the evening of the performance.

ETSU at Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland

ETSU at Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland
Check out ETSU's display at Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland. 

ETSU at Bristol Motor Speedway in Lights

Don’t miss ETSU’s beautiful display at the Speedway in Lights!

Gift Ideas

Bucky's Blend Premium Roasted Coffee

Presentation Element
Bucky's Blend

Bucky’s Blend was created with a singular purpose: to improve the quality of life for people in the mornings. Roasted in the shadow of the mountains, this premium blend embodies the energy of ETSU. A cup of this medium dark, ethically sourced coffee awakens the Buccaneer spirit, empowering everyone who wears the blue and gold. Locally roasted by Doe River Roasters in Elizabethton, Tennessee, Bucky’s Blend is available at the ETSU Bookstore.

Limited Edition 2023 Holiday Ornament

ornament with etsu cloth

This year's limited-edition ETSU holiday ornament, hand-painted by local artist Penny Livingston and the second in the series, features the historic Amphitheatre, a Greek-style structure designed by ETSU President Charles C. Sherrod (1925-49) and completed in 1936 with columns added in 1941. Construction of the Amphitheatre provided desperately needed work during the Great Depression through the Works Progress Administration. The natural outdoor backdrop has been used for gatherings and performances and as the site of countless graduation photos. 
 
Each year, a different landmark will be featured from ETSU’s beautiful campus. Be part of this ETSU tradition and celebrate the holidays with a beautiful ornament that can be passed down for generations.

Available only at:

Bowman Jewelers
Diamond Pointe Plaza (new location)
401 W. Oakland Avenue
Johnson City  423.282.8101

Monkee’s of Johnson City
2515 N. Roan Street
Johnson City  423.328.9488

  • About the artist: Penny Lee Livingston

    Penny Lee Livingston has painted thousands of glass ornaments over the past 32 years. After starting a family and working a full time office job, she wanted to reconnect with her creative side so she began taking painting classes from local artists. One class involved painting a snow scene on a glass ornament. Taking pride in this piece, she showed it to her co-workers. As a surprise to Penny, her painting opportunities took off. Before social media and with no advertising, she was getting more orders than she could keep up with. She has painted custom, personalized ornaments every Christmas for clients from the birth of their child to the purchase of that child's first home. She specializes in home and pet portraits along with famous landmarks, one of which was mailed to London.

    The powerful testimonials received throughout the years have been inspiring and motivational for Penny. She becomes so connected and emotional while painting each piece. Only the highest quality frosted glass ornaments, purchased from Christmas by Krebs, is used for each unique, hand-painted keepsake.

    Penny continues to grow as an artist. Although ornament design has been a constant, she has also completed custom commissioned pieces on a multitude of surfaces. Over the decades she has completed a few residential and commercial murals.

    Penny retired after 33 years of employment with Citi. She is now a full-time artist/muralist residing in Elizabethton, Tennessee. In her spare time she loves hiking and biking…anything to do with nature and her grandchildren.

    For more information, contact her at @artofpennylee.

Music

ETSU Holiday Spotify Playlist

Get in the holiday spirit with this playlist featuring artists who all have close ties to the mountains we call home — the Appalachian Highlands of east Tennessee, southwestern Virginia, southeastern Kentucky, and western North Carolina! 

 

Santa Bucky

Sing along with one of ETSU’s most famous a cappella groups, Greyscale, in this reimaging of a holiday classic.

Joy to the World

You’ll be blown away by the ETSU’s Marching Bucs’ powerful and joyous rendition of Joy to the World.

Jingle Bells

Enjoy this rendition of Jingle Bells, performed by East Tennessee State University’s Bluegrass Band. This past year, ETSU’s Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Roots Music Studies program hosted a concert to celebrate the program’s 40th anniversary. The milestone gathering brought together acclaimed alumni, faculty, students, and the community for a musical reunion and celebration of this distinctive program that was the first of its kind at a four-year university.

Holiday Videos

Giving

The holidays are a wonderful time of year to express our thanks for all we have and to give to others. If you would like to make a difference on the ETSU campus this holiday season, consider supporting one of the following initiatives: