The pageantry, music and food of 16th-century England is re-created at the annual Madrigal dinner.

As the cold weather advances this autumn and many people think about Halloween costumes and Thanksgiving traditions, folks at Western Carolina University have turned their minds toward the holiday season.

Tickets for this year’s Madrigal Christmas Dinners will go on sale 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. The annual dinner extravaganza, a tradition for WCU and the surrounding communities since 1970, is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5, in the Grandroom of WCU’s A.K. Hinds University Center.

The dinners are re-creations of the pageantry, music and food of 16th-century England, with authentic madrigal entertainment and costumes. This year, the dinner menus will feature a choice of three entrees: a grilled pork loin chop seasoned with bourbon-apple glaze, honey citrus-glazed Cornish game hen, or a vegetarian plate featuring a stuffed portabella mushroom. Accompaniments include traditional wassail, hearts of Romaine salad with sugared pecans and dried cranberries with a balsamic vinaigrette, roasted garlic mashed new potatoes, honey cinnamon-glazed carrots, plum pudding, rolls, tea, water and coffee.

The programs begin at 6:30 p.m., and all patrons must be seated by 6:25 p.m. Tables will seat eight patrons each. 
Tickets are $18 for WCU students and $30 for all others.

Tickets may be purchased at the administrative offices on the second floor of the Hinds University Center, or by calling (828) 227-7206. Ticket desk hours are 9 a.m. until noon and 1 until 4 p.m. weekdays. Telephone reservations must be paid by credit card (MasterCard, Visa or Discover). Reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis. All sales are final.

Maintained by the Office of Public Relations
Last Modified: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009