DURANT— Something new will be happening at Southeastern Oklahoma State University during the upcoming holiday season.

Southeastern radio station KSSU has announced a special gift from the Department of Art, Communication and Theatre. The student-managed station is producing “The KSSU Holiday Festival.”

The program will be aired on Sundays from 7 a.m. until midnight, beginning Nov. 29 and ending on Dec. 27.

“This event will be a delight for the entire family,” said Professor Dell McLain, chair of the Department of Art, Communication, and Theatre. “We will be broadening our Sunday evening format to include entertainment for the whole community. For five Sundays during the holiday season, our student managers have chosen a variety of radio selections that range from old-time Christmas radio shows to classic ‘pops.”’

In addition, there will be a number of selections that promise to create a special feeling for this nostalgic time of the year, according to McLain.

“Part of our Holiday Festival will feature Candlelighting, one of Southeastern’s oldest traditions,” McLain said. “This is a wonderful opportunity to continue to celebrate Southeastern’s Centennial as we highlight our 88th annual event on Monday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m.

This year KSSU plans to present a live broadcast from Montgomery Auditorium and tape the performance so that it can be aired again the following Sunday, Dec.13. Dr. Stacy Weger, director of university choral programs and director for Candlelighting, will be the guest commentator that evening.

“This will provide a wonderful personal touch to the program in addition to the glorious music planned for that evening’s celebration,” said McLain.

Following that evening’s performance, the classic tale of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” will be aired. The special radio program was produced by Starlight Radio Theatre and co-produced by KSSU and Theatre at Southeastern. This community favorite will feature the voices of guest artists Jack Haggard, Dell McLain, Dana Ayers, Aaron Umsted, Katy Morris, the late Dr. Robert Henderson, Gray Morrison, Sherry Quaid, and Jose Chavez.