Drew’s Holiday Trolley returned for its second year, bringing music, warmth, and Dragon spirit beyond campus and into neighborhoods across San Francisco. Featuring student musicians and singers from Drew’s Performing Arts program, the trolley ride transformed city streets into an unexpected stage—one filled with joyful performances and shared moments of connection.
The event began with a festive kickoff on campus, where community members gathered for hot chocolate, cookies, and a special send-off performance. From there, the group departed on the iconic trolley and traveled through San Francisco—from Pacific Heights to Noe Valley, Union Square, and beyond—sharing music and spreading cheer throughout the city. View photos and videos from the event HERE!
For students, the experience was equal parts exhilarating and memorable.
“One of the best parts of Drew is being able to play music throughout the city, spreading cheer far and wide,” shared Cole B. ’26.
Others reflected on the unique energy of performing for an unexpected audience.
“It was nice seeing people’s reactions to the trolley—I could tell they really enjoyed it,” said Kate F. ’28.
Performing on a moving trolley added an extra layer of excitement and challenge.
“It’s quite a wild ride, playing complex music on a moving vehicle while we all slide around and things fall over,” laughed Theo A.W. ’28. “It’s also a great opportunity to display our skills and hard work.”
The shared experience brought together students from different ensembles, creating space for connection both on and off the stage.
“Singing on the trolley was so much fun,” said Autumn G. ’26. “I got to bond with friends in vocal ensemble and band who I don’t usually talk to, and spreading cheer and seeing people’s smiles from our performances made my week.”
For some students, it was their first time participating in the tradition.
“It was such a fun experience,” shared Lucero A. ’28. “I was a little nervous at first because it was my first time on the trolley, but everyone was so nice, and I loved hanging out with everyone.”
From the faculty perspective, the Holiday Trolley represents something special within Drew’s Performing Arts program.
“The trolley experience is one of the pinnacle experiences in the Performing Arts Department at Drew,” said Lara Greene, Performing Arts faculty member of 15 years. “It’s teacher joy on the highest level—getting to witness my students spread holiday cheer and present their hard work to an appreciative public.”
As the music echoed through city streets and passersby stopped to listen, laugh, wave and smile, the Holiday Trolley once again reminded the Drew community of the power of performance to bring people together.
At Drew, the arts are about more than performance—they’re about connection, creativity, and sharing joy beyond our walls.
