Holiday events help students during break

Liz Bos

Liz Bos

The 2008 holiday season is looking to be a busy one this year, with many events occurring in Brookings, Sioux Falls and the surrounding area. Although many students will be going home for winter break, there are still things to keep them busy.

The Delaney duo, consisting of brothers Tristan and Evan Delaney, will be performing selections of Christmas music accompanied by acoustic guitar on Dec. 12 at the Brookings Wesleyan Church Activity Center. The event, which is from 7 to 9 p.m., is open to the public and admission is free.

“I like Christmas music, so it should be fun,” said senior graphic design major Trisha Schmelz.

Also on Dec. 12, University Program Council is sponsoring a Snow Flake Skate at Larson Ice Arena from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is free.

Doner Auditorium will host “A Christmas Celebration” put on by Exaltation! Dance and Choral Company on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. Tickets will be $6 for adults, $4 for students and $20 for student groups of 10. Proceeds from the performance will benefit the Brookings Area Domestic Abuse Shelter.

The SDSU English Club is sponsoring a Variety Night on Saturday, Dec. 13 at Cottonwood Coffee. Doors open at 8 p.m., and the performances begin at 8:30 p.m. Admission is free. (See the Variety Night article for more information).

The Johnny Holm Band and 32 Below will be playing at the “Resolutions Can Wait: A Not Quite New Year’s Eve Party” at the Sioux Falls Arena on Dec. 27 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door (or $12 with a donation to the Children’s Inn) and are available at the Arena box office.

Several movies will be released over the holiday season, as well, including Nothing Like The Holidays, about a Puerto Rican family Christmas gathering (Dec. 12), starring Debra Messing and Freddy Rodriguez.

“It looks like a warm-hearted, Christmas-spirited movie,” said Justin Geraets, a sophomore global studies major.

On Dec. 19, three movies are set to be released in theaters. These include: Yes Man, starring Jim Carrey about a man who decides to say yes to everyone for a year; The Day The Earth Stood Still, starring Keanu Reeves about aliens visiting the Earth; and Seven Pounds, starring Will Smith about a suicidal IRS agent determined to help seven strangers.

Four movies coming to theaters on Dec. 25 include: Bedtime Stories, starring Adam Sandler; The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, starring Brad Pitt; The Spirit, starring Samuel L. Jackson; and Valkyrie, starring Tom Cruise.

“[Valkyrie] has interesting historical stuff and is about a guy who has principle,” said freshman software engineering major Andrew Boyce.

Other movies students were interested in seeing include High School Musical 3, Bolt, Quantum of Solace, Four Christmases, Twilight and Pineapple Express.