Campus prepares for Winter Carnival

For the past 88 years, February has played host to one of the College’s most beloved traditions, Winter Carnival. This year, Winter Carnival will take place the weekend of Feb. 18.

Each year, Winter Carnival is planned and run by the Traditions Committee, a sub-committee of the Middlebury College Activities Board (MCAB).  The committee, led by Liz Gay ’10, devotes much of its time and budget to this campus-wide event.

This year’s event, a throw-back to the days of old at the College, has a vintage theme.

“This year's Winter Carnival was inspired by the vintage Winter Carnival posters from the 1930s hanging around McCullough,” said Gay. “We wanted to return to the original, classic traditions of Middlebury Winter Carnival and plan exciting and fun events, while also bringing back a bit of forgotten school history.”

Not only will there be an old-school vibe at this year’s events, but MCAB is also bringing back some other traditions of the past.

“We're bringing back the Winter Carnival King and Queen, which is a sort of outdated tradition, but we thought it would just be something silly for the entire campus to get involved in,” Gay said.
Maria Perille, president of MCAB agrees.

“Having King and Queen of Winter Carnival is a fun way to recognize peers and it has largely been met with enthusiasm.”

Another tradition that students will be able to attend is The Klondike Rush. It was once one of the main highlights of Winter Carnivals. Reaching the height of its popularity in the 1950’s and 60’s, The Klondike Rush was held in the gymnasium, now McCullough Student Center. Students would gather for an evening of dancing, music and award ceremonies.

According to Zachary Bartlett, a member of the MCAB Traditions Committee, “it was a big event and really gave the weekend a festive and party-like atmosphere.”

While the event will be different this year, the original inspiration will definitely still be present.

“We'll have it take place that Friday [Jan. 18] from 7-9 p.m. in Pearsons Lounge, where we'll have card games, a student band, a fire going, cabin food and drinks,” said Bartlett. “Definitely a very Vermonty, flannel, traditional atmosphere. It will be an awesome way to chill out and start off the weekend before going to the comedian later that night. ”

“While we are bringing back these older traditions, we still like to keep this event fresh and exciting,” Gay added.

One of these traditional events is Orange Crush on Thursday [Jan. 17] night, a dance with an 80’s themed band. Following the Klondike Rush will be comedian John Mulaney. A graduate of Georgetown University, Mulaney is currently a featured actor and writer for Saturday Night Live and has been on VH1’s Best Week Ever.

The Winter Carnival Ball will be center stage on Saturday night, featuring the two DJs known together as Flosstradamus.

“The DJ duo are a pretty cool act, and have performed at some of the big music festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza and so we think they'll really get the energy up at the ball,” said Gay.

Since the origin of Winter Carnival is as a support and celebration of the College’s ski team, MCAB will be arranging for extra shuttles between Middlebury and the Snow Bowl to watch the races.

"Students should take advantage of [the weekend’s events], whether they are second semester seniors or new Febs, and get involved in the whole tradition, either by carving a snow sculpture on McCullough lawn or cheering on the ski team or dancing until two at the Ball,” Gay said.

Students can see the schedule events and purchase tickets from the box office in McCullough and online.

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