November 12, 2026 — The holiday season is here, and one of Marist's most beloved traditions returns on Nov. 30. The annual Marist Tree Lighting will take place at 5:15 p.m. in front of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel.

The celebration will feature live holiday music from the Marist Singers, along with cookies, hot chocolate, and plenty of holiday cheer. All are welcome to join what has become one of the most festive and photographed events of the year.

Let There Be Lights!
New York City’s Rockefeller Center may have one of the world’s most famous Christmas trees, but when it comes to lights, Marist has bragging rights.

The Marist Tree shines with 78,400 energy-efficient LED lights across 784 strands, roughly 50% more lights than the Rockefeller tree! Standing between 52 and 54 feet tall, the tree is decorated by dedicated groundskeepers who begin preparations in October, carefully installing the lights before winter weather arrives. Every fourth light is a vibrant Marist red.

Physical Plant staff work to install the 78,400 LED lights on the Marist Tree last week. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/Marist University.

Marist has celebrated the season with a campus tree since the 1980s, with the current illuminated display becoming a centerpiece of holiday traditions in 2002.

Share Your Holiday Moments
Whether you're attending the tree lighting or simply passing by the glowing display, we invite you to share your favorite photos. Tag @Marist for a chance to be featured on Marist's social media channels.

A Season of Giving
For more than 30 years, Marist has supported local families in need through initiatives led by the Department of Spiritual Life and Service (SLS), from the annual Giving Tree program to Hunger Month efforts focused on food insecurity.

Since 1993, the Giving Tree initiative has provided more than 24,000 gifts to children and families throughout the Hudson Valley, making it one of the University's longest-running traditions of community service.

A Giving Tree on display in 2024 in the Lowell Thomas Communications Center. Photo by Carlo de Jesus/Marist University.

Located throughout campus, including Dyson Center, Donnelly Hall, Lowell Thomas Communications Center, Cannavino Library, Fontaine Hall, Hancock Center, the Champagnat Breezeway, and MPorium in Steel Plant, the trees allow community members to select an ornament, purchase the requested gift, wrap it, and return it by the designated deadline.

The same spirit of service extends to Hunger Month, a campus-wide initiative coordinated by SLS that began with the Hunger Walk on Oct. 28 and culminates Nov. 20 with a celebration of the community's collective efforts to address food insecurity.

A cornerstone of Hunger Month is the University's annual Food Drive, taking place Nov. 16-20. Collection boxes are placed throughout campus, engaging the campus community to gather nonperishable food items for community members experiencing food insecurity.

“In this season of giving, we are grateful for the commitment to service and the contributions of time and resources offered by so many members of the Marist community—students, staff, and faculty,” Rev. Deanna Shorb, Director of the Department of Spiritual Life and Service.  “During this time, we unite in purpose as we celebrate with the wider community."

Marist Dining supports food insecurity efforts year-round through donations to local charities. The student-run Marist Pantry also provides essential resources to members of the Marist community and helps destigmatize food insecurity through its motto, "Red Foxes Should Be Fed Foxes."