Spirit of Christmas – WCSF 88.7 FM

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One of the area’s finest holiday traditions, the Spirit of Christmas offers commercial-free holiday music and is broadcast 24 hours a day from Thanksgiving through January 2. This festive programming is presented annually by WCSF 88.7 FM, the student-run radio station at the University of St. Francis. This is the 30th anniversary season of the Spirit of Christmas program that USF has offered to the community.

Classics, current hits and children’s songs will be featured as well as a variety of special programming, including local choirs and bands, according to Don Burke, Spirit of Christmas producer. Listeners may call in requests at selected times. Burke says that thousands of listeners tune into the Spirit of Christmas programming each year.

In addition to reaching listeners throughout greater Will County, WCSF 88.7 FM can be accessed worldwide through live streaming. For more information, call the station at 815-740-3214 or tune in today for commercial-free Christmas tunes!

Spirit of Christmas was established in 1993 by Bob Zak. It originally aired December 1st through the 25th. In 1999, Don Burke began producing the program and expanded it to run from the day after Thanksgiving through January 2. In 2002, the start date became Thanksgiving day. Not only has Spirit of Christmas expanded while still remaining true to its original vision, but each year, selected students help produce the program and gain invaluable experience. Spirit of Christmas has become a holiday tradition in Will County, generating a tremendous response from the community since its inception.

Spirit of Christmas is also the major fundraiser for WCSF-FM, the University of St. Francis radio station. WCSF is a non-profit, educational radio station and is reliant on donations and the generosity of local business to support and underwrite the holiday programming, allowing USF to provide its students with a quality educational experience.

 

Spirit of Christmas Special Programming – 2023

November 23 – January 2

All times indicated are Central Standard Time

 

Daily (Nov. 29-Dec. 24)

Cinnamon Bear – 5pm (rebroadcast) and 6pm

Classic 1937 children’s radio drama featuring the quest for the silver star

 

Saturday, Nov. 25

Christmas Across the Lands – 7pm

 

Saturday, Dec. 2

Christmas Across the Lands – 7pm

 

Sunday, Dec. 3

Christmas in Our Town – 7pm

All your requests and dedications

 

Monday, Dec. 4

Motown Christmas – 7pm

R&B Christmas – 8pm

 

Tuesday, Dec. 5

A Country Christmas – 7pm

 

Wednesday, Dec. 6

Instrumental Christmas – 7pm

 

Thursday, Dec. 7

Bing Crosby Christmas Collection – 7pm

Christmas Crooners – 8pm

 

Friday, Dec. 8

Chipmunk Christmas – 7pm

Christmas Comedy – 8pm

 

Saturday, Dec. 9

Christmas Across the Lands – 7pm

 

Sunday, Dec. 10

Children’s Christmas – Noon

Christmas in Our Town – 7pm

All your requests and dedications

 

Monday, Dec. 11

Polka Christmas Celebration – 7pm

Featuring Joliet’s own Bob Doszak

Big Band Christmas – 8pm

 

Tuesday, Dec. 12

Acapella Christmas – 7pm

Christmas “Live!” – 8pm

 

Wednesday, Dec. 13

Christmas Across America – 7pm

Christmas Around the World – 8pm

 

Thursday, Dec. 14

Bing Crosby Christmas Collection – 7pm

Christmas Divas – 8pm

 

Friday, Dec. 15

Pop Stars Sing Christmas – 7pm

Rockin’ Christmas – 8pm

 

Saturday, Dec. 16

Christmas Across the Lands – 7pm

 

Sunday, Dec. 17

Old-Time Radio Christmas Classic – Noon

Christmas in Our Town – 7pm

All your requests and dedications

 

Monday, Dec. 18

A Boy Band Christmas – 7pm

Swingin’ Christmas – 8pm

 

Tuesday, Dec. 19

Sing Along w/Mitch Miller and Ray Conniff – 7pm

Christmas with Leroy Anderson and Percy Faith – 8pm

 

Wednesday, Dec. 20

Christmas with the Rat Pack – 7pm

Christmas w/Nat “King” Cole & Natalie Cole – 8pm

 

Thursday, Dec. 21

Bing Crosby Christmas Collection – 7pm

Christmas Duets – 8pm

 

Friday, Dec. 22

University of St. Francis Music & Performing Arts – 7pm

USF’s own student choirs

 

Saturday, Dec. 23

World’s Greatest Choirs – 7pm

 

Sunday, Dec. 24

Top 25 Christmas Songs of 2023 – Noon

A countdown of your Christmas favorites of 2023

Snoopy vs. the Red Barron – 5:30pm

Cinnamon Bear – 6pm

The exciting conclusion!

Christmas Eve with Bing Crosby & Friends – 7pm

 

Monday, Dec. 25

Cinnamon Bear – 5pm

Rebroadcast of the conclusion!

Christmas Across the Lands – 6pm

 

Friday, Dec. 29

Tribute – 7pm

A tribute to those Christmas recording artists we lost in 2023.

 

Sunday, Dec. 31

Top 25 Christmas Songs of 2023 – Noon & 9pm

A replay countdown of your Christmas favorites of 2023

 

Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024

Spirit of Christmas ends – Noon

 

Commercial-free Christmas music 24 hours a day!

 

Listen on the radio at 88.7FM or online at stfrancis.edu/spirit

Sponsorship of the Spirit of Christmas program gives local businesses and friends of USF the opportunity to support the university’s educational mission while sharing holiday greetings with the community. Choose from one of the five sponsorship programs below. Gift amounts under the amounts listed below will receive on-air acknowledgement.

  • Christmas Star Sponsors will be recognized 500 times during the entire program.
    The tax deductible contribution for this sponsorship is $5,000.
    Only 5 Star Sponsors will be accepted.
  • Christmas Spirit Sponsors will be recognized 250 times during the entire program.
    The tax deductible contribution for this sponsorship is $2,500.
    Only 10 Spirit Sponsors will be accepted.
  • Christmas Cheer Sponsors will be recognized 100 times during the entire program.
    The tax deductible contribution for this sponsorship is $1,000.
    Only 12 Cheer Sponsors will be accepted.
  • Christmas Greeting Sponsors will be recognized 50 times during the entire program.
    The tax-deductible contribution for this sponsorship is $500.
    Only 15 Greeting Sponsors will be accepted.
  • Christmas Friend Sponsors will be recognized 25 times during the entire program.
    The tax-deductible contribution for this sponsorship is $250.
    Only 15 Friend Sponsors will be accepted.

Payment:

  • To pay online: click here.
  • To pay by check, please make checks payable to the University of St. Francis and mail to:

Institutional Advancement Office
University of St. Francis
500 Wilcox St.
Joliet, IL 60435

Questions?

  • Contact USF’s Institutional Advancement Office at 815-740-3610.

Contact the station:

Learn more about campus media at USF

Vote for your favorite song!

To vote for your favorite song, fill out and submit the form below. Only one vote from each email address will be accepted each day. Multiple votes received from the same email address in the same day, or multiple votes for the same song from different email addresses received in a very short period of time will not be counted.
Tune in Christmas Eve at 12 noon CST as we count down your favorite Christmas songs of the year!
All voting ends at 11am CST on 12/24.

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