Converse celebrates holiday season with annual Festival of Lessons and Carols
November 18, 2025
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.
“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 wishing 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 students in emergency situations by covering basic needs like food and housing.
Full event details can be found on the Lessons and Carols event page. For any additional information, please contact Administrative Assistant to the Petrie School of Music, Anna Neely, at [email protected].
About Converse University
Converse University empowers students to become transformative leaders who see clearly, decide wisely, and act justly. Converse was founded in 1889 by citizens of Spartanburg, SC, who aimed to create an educational experience for women, and in fall 2020 it welcomed its first undergraduate co-educational incoming class. The University encompasses the School of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the School of Business & Data Science, the School of the Arts, the School of Education, The Graduate School, and the Converse College for Women. Converse students experience deep scholarship, transformative mentorship, experiential learning, and wonderful support for and belief in each other. Through this unique formula, Converse is a creator of opportunity for its students through a personalized education that also includes the professional and technical skills graduates need to be successful in their careers. For more information, visit www.converse.edu.
