Celebrating Christmas at Gordon: Tree Lighting, Gala and Marketplace Magic

On December 6–7 the Gordon College community and visitors from around the North Shore gathered for a festive time of celebrations at Christmas at Gordon. The frosty winter air did not take away from the warm smiles of attendees as they decorated cookies and enjoyed a concert of seasonal music. This year’s events were especially exciting due to the return of Gordon’s popular Christmas Marketplace, which returned to campus after a hiatus of a few years.  

Christmas at Gordon: Lighting of the Tree 

One of the main attractions during Christmas at Gordon is the lighting of the Christmas tree on the Clarendon Commons. Leading up to the tree lighting on Friday December 6, a crowd gathered to drink hot chocolate and enjoy the (artificial!) snow blowing through the air. Just before the lighting Gordon College President Mike Hammond took the stage with his wife Jennifer to lead the countdown with the crowd, who cheered as the lights came on and illuminated the tree. As the crowd enjoyed the sight, a small choir onstage sang “This is the Day That the Lord has Made.” With warm beverages in-hand and music filling the air, the wait was worth the experience.  

Choir students sing at the Gala as part of Christmas at Gordon.

Gordon’s Christmas Gala 

The Christmas Gala has been Gordon’s most beloved Christmas tradition for 34 years, providing a musical narrative on the story of Jesus' birth to usher in the season of Advent. Students of all majors involved in music ensembles from the Adams School of Music and the Arts, as well as community members from the Symphonic Band and Symphony orchestra, shared their vocal and instrumental skills. Performances ranged from new takes on traditional Christmas carols to music from the renaissance to new arrangement of Silent Night that Dr. Sarita Kwok performed with Dr. YaLin Huang.  

The production included participation from Gordon’s Children’s Choir, Men’s Choir, Women’s Choir, College Choir, Symphonic Band and Symphony Orchestra. The Gala started with the traditional candle-lit procession of students from all choirs. Between songs Mark Vogelzang (former president and CEO of Nevada Public Radio) narrated the event by reading Christmas poems and scripture passages about the birth of Jesus. Closing with a final, powerful performance by the Symphonic Band of the medley “A Celebration of Christmas Carols,” it was another unforgettable Gala performance. 

The Christmas Marketplace 

Visitors explore the Christmas Marketplace as part of Christmas at Gordon.

Another main event during this year’s celebrations was Gordon’s Christmas Marketplace, which featured vendors selling handmade crafts and Christmas decorations. One Gordon student, Kaitlyn Mini ’25 (psychology), had a booth to showcase her handmade jewelry, bookmarks and paintings. Mini’s creations were popular, and many attendees left with beautiful pieces from her shop.  

Other Marketplace booths included a secondhand jewelry shop, Thrifted & Beaded, run by Isabelle Harper ’26 (early childhood education). Harper crafts her pieces––mainly necklaces and earrings––out of beads and chains that she collects from secondhand stores. One shopper, Naomi Love ’27 (psychology), said, “I bought a one-of-a-kind necklace from Harper’s booth that I'm so excited to wear! I appreciate Gordon for allowing us the chance to be a part of such creativity by bringing back the Christmas Marketplace.” 

Christmas Crafts in Chester’s  

Throughout the afternoon of Saturday, December 7, children and families had the opportunity to help the community by decorating paper bags. These bags will be used to hold meals for food service organizations in the area. Gordon’s Office of Community Engagement put the project together in partnership with financial company Thrivent (which also had a booth at the market). Attendees could also fill in snowmen and gingerbread men coloring pages or make beaded snowflakes. Children especially enjoyed the crafts, while parents appreciated doing something creative to support the local community.   

“A Very Hammond Holiday” 

To wrap up the Christmas activities, Mike and Jennifer Hammond hosted a Christmas party for students in the Lane Student Center. The event featured several activities including cookie decorating, karaoke and a gingerbread house decorating contest. Craft tables held markers, cards and stickers for attendees to use to write letters of support for workers at a soup kitchen in Lynn, MA, called My Brother’s Table where Gordon's Office of Community Engagement often volunteers. It was the perfect ending to another festive Christmas at Gordon. 

Reagan Forbes ’24, communication arts