Ring in the festive season with the University of Reading – from carol singing to a Santa Run, Christmas shopping and the Giving Tree to get our local community feeling Christmassy. For those of you further afield, we’d love you to join in our virtual Christmas quiz.
Virtual Christmas Quiz
Friday 1 – Thursday 21 December, Instagram Stories and Facebook Feed
Check out our Instagram stories and Facebook page for a virtual Christmas Quiz throughout December. We’ll be bringing you a Christmas question everyday, Monday – Friday, from Friday 1 December right up until Thursday 21 December.
WINTER FESTIVAL
Friday 1 December, 17:00 – 22:30, Palmer Quad and Reading Students Union
Come together this winter for free entertainment, music and singing, delicious food and drink, festive family fun with lots of activities and exciting stalls at our wondrous winter market!
Open to all and no registration required. Find out more.
Christmas shopping
Monday 4 December, 10:00 – 15:30, The Library foyer, Whiteknights Campus
The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) is hosting its pop-up shop with a range of gifts for all ages. Treat yourself to a unique gift, start your Christmas shopping early, or just have a chat to find out what’s going on at the MERL and in Special Collections.
The Old Merch Shop in Reading Students’ Union offers an array of cards, gifts, stationery, plants and prints, including products from local Reading-based businesses.
It’s open Tuesday – Friday from 10:00 – 17:00 and Saturday from 11:00 – 15:00 until mid-January 2024.
CAROL SERVICE
Monday 4 December, 18:00 – 19:00, St Lukes Church, Erleigh road, Reading
Join the University Chaplaincy and Reading University’s Music Society to celebrate the Christmas season with a traditional service of carols and readings from members of the University community. The event is free to attend, however a collection will be taken in support of charities Readifood and British Red Cross. Refreshments will also be provided.
THE READING SANTA RUN
Sunday 10 December, 10:00 – 16:00, University Car park, Shinfield Road entrance
We’re delighted to be hosting the Reading Rotary Santa Run on campus again this year. Join us for the chance to dress up as you run or walk around our beautiful campus, and raise money for good causes in the process.
Whether you join the run or come along to watch, you’ll also be able to enjoy the food market, choir performances and festive drinks.
- Untimed 2K Mini Santa run or walk – everybody, of any age or ability, is welcome to join in the mini Santa run which starts at 10 am.
- Timed 5K Santa Run – open to anyone over 5 years old, this run starts at 10:30am.
Anyone under 16, in both runs, must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
THE GIVING TREE
Monday 27 November – Thursday 14 December, library foyer, Whiteknights campus
The Giving Tree is Connect Reading’s annual Christmas Campaign and is a chance to spread some Christmas kindness.
This year, the University and the Reading Students’ Union (RSU) have been matched with the NHS Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH) and have pledged to donate 150 gifts.
Running until 14 December 2023, you can pick up a gift tag from the Christmas tree in the University of Reading Library Foyer. Purchase the specified gift on the tag (please shop local where possible) and return the unwrapped gift with tag to the Welcome Desk at the RSU Reception.
Anyone in the local community is able to get involved and donate a gift to RBH this Christmas. The requested gifts are valued between £5-£15 with encouragement for people to “buddy-up” and gift give together, hopefully making the Giving Tree as affordable as possible.
It’s absolutely fine if this isn’t something that is possible for you right now, sharing this message and spreading the word is just as important.
If you want to find out any more information please email community@reading.ac.uk.
Are you doing anything over the festive period? Share your story with us at alumni@reading.ac.uk
