The Illinois State University Planetarium will offer its holiday program Season of Light, running weekends from November 30 through December 15. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturdays.
Season of Light, narrated by National Public Radio’s Noah Adams, recounts the historical, religious, and cultural rituals surrounding the coming of winter and the shortest day of the year—the winter solstice.
The full-dome program explores not only Christian and Jewish traditions, but also Egyptian, Roman, Pagan, Celtic, Nordic, and Hopi practices. Season of Light also looks at some of the more light-hearted seasonal traditions, from kissing under the mistletoe to songs about lords a-leaping and ladies dancing.
Admission to the ISU Planetarium is $4 for adults, $3 for children ages 5-12 and seniors, and $2 for children ages 3-4. Tickets may be purchased in the Planetarium Gift Shop, next to the Planetarium, beginning 20 minutes before each show.
The newly remodeled ISU Planetarium is located under the white-domed roof at the eastern end of Felmley Hall of Science Annex. Felmley Hall is located on the northeast corner of the ISU campus at the intersection of College Avenue and School Street.
Free parking for the weekend programs is available a short distance from the ISU Planetarium in University parking lot F-67, located on the east side of School Street.
For more information, please call the ISU Physics Department at (309) 438-8756 or visit the Planetarium website.
