The 53rd annual Thiel College Christmas Festival will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, in the college’s William A. Passavant Memorial Center.

Performing will be the Thiel Choir, Thiel Chamber Singers and the Thiel College Handbell Ringers, all under the direction of Dr. Michael R. Bray, professor of music, and the Thiel Concert Band under the direction of Jeffrey Hvizdos.

The concert, “A Child is Born,” will feature sacred anthems of the season. Local flutists Barbara Davis ’51 of Greenville and Robyn Lohr of Mercer will provide accompaniment on two selections.

The Christmas Festival, established by Dr. Marlowe Johnson in 1953, was held for many years in the Rissell Gymnasium.  Today’s choir members perform in the Passavant Center and continue the tradition of designing, building and painting the set for the concert.

The concert is free and the public is encouraged to come and welcome in the yule season.  For further information call Dr. Michael Bray at 724-589-2149.