Converse Celebrates Holiday Season with Annual Festival of Lessons and Carols
Written by Karen Rhodes
Converse University invites the Spartanburg community to joyfully celebrate the holiday season on December 4, 2025, during its Festival of Lessons and Carols in Twichell Auditorium at the Zimmerli Performance Center. This annual event, organized by the Office of Spiritual Life at Converse, has become a favorite tradition for both the university and the local community.
The program starts at 7:30 p.m. and is free to the public; no tickets are required. Those unable to attend in person may watch the livestream on our YouTube channel.
The Festival of Lessons and Carols celebrates the holiday season with music and hymns, along with student-led scripture readings. Spartanburg Master Chorale, Converse Wind Ensemble, and Converse Chorale will perform beloved, traditional songs between the readings. The audience will be invited to sing along in many segments of the program.
“Bringing others to campus sparks a spirit of connectivity that makes me proud to be a Valkyrie.”
Reverend Eliza Smith DeBovoise
“Lessons and Carols is a cherished Converse Christmas tradition that propels us into the season of Advent with joyful anticipation,” shared University Chaplain and Director of Community Engagement Reverend Eliza Smith DeBovoise. “I am grateful to have the chance to work with such wonderful students, community members, and colleagues annually to create something beautiful and reverent for our Converse and Spartanburg communities. Bringing others to campus sparks a spirit of connectivity that makes me proud to be a Valkyrie.”
In addition to two ornate Christmas trees lighting up the Twichell stage, luminaries will line the front of Converse’s campus for the evening’s glow. These luminaries are sponsored by members of the university community who wish to honor and/or remember loved ones. Funds collected from the sale of luminaries, which are $10 each, are contributed to the Student Benevolence Fund, which helps Converse students in emergency situations by covering basic needs like food and housing.