CULLOWHEE – Although most people are just now getting used to the idea that autumn has officially arrived, some folks at Western Carolina University already have turned their attention toward the Christmas season.

Tickets for this year’s Madrigal Christmas Dinners will go on sale at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4. The annual dinner extravaganza, a tradition for Western and the surrounding community since 1970, is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 6, in the Grandroom of Western’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 developed by the chef at Aramark, the university’s food service provider, will feature a choice of three entrees: a grilled pork loin chop with bourbon-apple glaze, honey citrus-glazed Cornish game hen, or a vegetarian plate featuring a stuffed portabella mushroom. The meal will be served with 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 Western students and $30 for all others.

Tickets may be purchased on the second floor of 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 or Visa). Reservations are made on a firstcome, first-served basis. All sales are final.