Mid-Winter Blues Welcomes Grandeur 'Once Upon a Carnival'

Author: Matthew Christ

As winter drags on and we begin to settle into the routine of a new semester, a weekend approaches that can only be described as "fantastical." With promises to destroy the mid-February monotony, Winter Carnival 2002 will officially commence on Thursday.

"It is going to be the biggest social event of the year," said Lisa Bennet '02. Bennet is the Administrative Chair of the 20-person strong Social Board, which has completely planned and organized this weekend's events. The execution of the carnival has proved to be a daunting task since the Social Board receives little to no money from the College, despite the fact that Middlebury College's Winter Carnival is the oldest and largest in the country.

The board has been working since early October to raise the necessary funds, which they have accomplished by selling tickets at sporting events, soliciting the commons for donations, and selling student Carnival packages.

Although Middlebury hosts a grand Winter Carnival, many Eastern schools with elite Division One ski teams also host their own events over course of the ski season. All carnivals have both nordic and alpine skiing competitions, but what distinguishes Middlebury's Carnival is that for years the National Collegiate Athletic Association has graced Middlebury with the honor of hosting Division One Skiing Finals. Like other NCAA championships, such as the Rose Bowl or the Final Four, this weekend's athletic competitions will prove to be extremely exciting.

Winter Carnival weekend, which began as a celebration of the Middlebury skiing tradition, has evolved into a gigantic party, complete with a fireworks display, an ice show, a cultural gala and a semi-formal ball. Carrying on the "fantastical" thematic tradition, the Social Board established this year's theme to be "Once Upon a Carnival."

The weekend will begin on Thursday night, with a fireworks show above the Center for the Arts. A cultural gala with an African flavor will follow inside the CFA. According to Bennet, this event is a must-see since the performances are all "fun and classy." Think of Thursday night as the Opening Ceremonies, minus the child of light.

After taking in all this culture, be sure to take in Orange Crush, an 80s cover band who will be playing in McCullough as part of the "Under the Sea" dance party and concert. The fun starts at 9:15 p.m., with the first 100 people through the door getting prizes.

The celebration continues on Friday morning with nordic and alpine skiing competitions. Be sure to check out the barbecue at 11:30 a.m. on the Snow Bowl deck. The best way to watch the alpine competitions is to be actually skiing at the Bowl as the races are in progress. Just position yourself somewhere along the course and watch some of the best skiers in the country fight for glory.

Make it back to campus for Commons Afternoon, which follows a Robin Hood theme. The activities will range from jousting to snow sculpture building with most of the action taking place on Battell Beach. This is the time to take advantage of the official college holiday.

Friday night features an exciting ice show based on traditional bedtime stories. Some of the best young skaters in the country have been brought in to participate in this theatrical event, including the 2002 New England Regional Novice Pair Champions Chad Brennan and Renee Laverdiere. The same show will repeat on Saturday afternoon, so if you miss it on Friday, you'll have another opportunity to witness the magic. The ice show will definitely attract many members of the Middlebury community, so expect to see a diverse crowd of students and area residents in Kenyon Arena.

After the ice show, head over to the special Winter Carnival night club, Where the Wild Things Are. There are two shows, one at 7:30 p.m. and another at 9 p.m., both of which will contain impressive talent mixing up hot beats. Later at night there will be a huge dance party, so make sure to end your night 'Where the Wild Things Are.'

The Carnival will close with the Happily Ever After ball on Saturday night in Nelson Arena. The attendance is typically extraordinary, and this year over 1500 people are expected. Alcohol will be served, but make sure you have your MiddCard and a governmental I.D. This is a great chance for those of you who did not have the valentine of your dreams to have a magical evening with the person you have eyed since September.

When I asked Bennet what event she was most nervous about pulling off this year, she responded, "None of them, all the events will be great!" With this in mind, there is no excuse to miss any of this year's incredible Winter Carnival activities.