A sweet table worthy of Willy Wonka, complete with a river of chocolate and a traditional horse-drawn carriage ride, were some of the highlights of this year’s Mingle and Jingle faculty and staff Christmas event held on Tuesday over the lunch hour in the Winclare room.

The stand-up party, with hors d’oeuvres, dessert and coffee stations is a departure from the formal sit-down luncheons of previous years and gives faculty and staff a chance to visit and catch up with friends, says catering manager Dean Kissner.

“It’s the first year we’ve tried a more casual approach and it seems to be a hit,” he says. “People like the small portion stations and they really loved the carriage ride – it’s a little bit of a traditional Christmas touch.”

More than 300 members of the campus community attended the event.