Naomi Girson | staff writer

Held the first Friday of December each year, Duquesne University’s annual Christmas Ball gives students a sneak peek into the holiday break, before they have to return to the library and hole up until finals are over.

The Christmas Ball is held at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh. This year, mark your calendars for Friday for the big night.

“I think it just helps bring people together, especially around the holidays, which is important, and makes you feel grateful for going to Duquesne and being around all these people,” said Isabella Niccolai, Duquesne Program Council (DPC) executive director.

The ball is planned and hosted by DPC. According to senior Olivia Gieske, one of DPC’s special event directors, along with senior Kelsey Molitoris, this year is the 44th Christmas Ball.

The two of them worked closely with Ashley Kane, director of student programming and first year experience, for one of DPC’s biggest annual events. Their responsibilities included scouting out a DJ (this year’s coming from positive reviews at orientation) and booking the photo booth, which was popular last year, according to Molitoris.

Niccolai considers the ball a Duquesne tradition, so there is a similar schedule and atmosphere each year. However, there is variety in the music and amenities, including the addition of a photo booth in recent years.

There is no official dress code, but with the nature of the event and upscale venue, students are encouraged to wear formal attire, and play into the lavish nature of the hotel.

“The Omni William Penn is a beautiful venue. There’s a check in, there’s a coat check. It really feels like a really fancy event,” Niccolai said. “There’s a sit down dinner, and then it opens to the photo booth, and then it opens to a dance floor, and the venue itself is gorgeous too, which is awesome.”

The evening starts with a three-course meal, and then the ballroom opens for dancing, the photo booth comes to life and students are free to mingle and explore all the Christmas ball has to offer.

Molitoris is a Pittsburgh native, but without previously attending the ball, she would have never known about the Omni William Penn. She said it is one of Pittsburgh’s nicest hotels, and they always decorate for the holidays.

“I think it is a really good opportunity to showcase a part of Pittsburgh that people, without going to Duquesne, might not be able to see,” Molitoris said.

With their towering Christmas tree complete with shiny-bulbed ornaments from top to bottom, the atmosphere brightens the spirits of attendees each year. The holiday season accompanies the excitement that comes with the ability to dress up and attend a ball with friends and peers.

DPC offers transportation to and from the hotel before and after the dance. Though the buses provided are not mandatory, in past years, they have been well used.

“I think a majority of people definitely use the bus because it is very convenient, it picks them up in front of the Union,” Gieske said. “Then, we also have other members of DPC organizing the traffic flow.”

The expected turnout for the ball is an estimated 450 students. Ticket sales began on Nov. 7, and conclude when they sell their max number. This year all the tickets have been sold.

“I think [the ball] impacts Duquesne community very positively, simply to give people something to look forward to each year that they’re here and just when you’re at the event, it’s bringing everybody together, and it’s kind of like a celebration for the semester that we had, and our Christmas, or our holiday season that’s coming up,” Molitoris said.