By Nina McCambridge
Last week, tents and rides began going up on the Cut as students lugged wood to Midway. Buggy teams had been preparing the whole year, only visible to those who rose at odd hours. Carnival weekend began on Thursday, April 11.
On Thursday, Carnival was supposed to begin at 3 p.m. All of the food trucks and rides had arrived. However, it rained the entire day. Tarps were up over the booths. People walked straight past the food trucks and rides without looking in either direction.
Computer science professor David Kosbie had encouraged students to have fun at Carnival, but with the rain, the task seemed daunting. Despite the downpour, Carnival began with festivities. Kiltie Band performed in the afternoon and Bill Nye (the science guy) gave a talk in the evening.
On Friday, it was still raining. Few people were outdoors. Free donuts and coffee were served in the Cohon University Center (UC), beginning in the morning and lasting into the afternoon. Alumni gathered for alumni events.
At lunchtime, free sandwiches, coleslaw, chips, and ice cream were served outside of the UC. People who registered for Carnival got free Scotty dog plushies. A capella performers sang near Au Bon Pain.
In Newell-Simon, there was a robotics showcase which lasted the entire afternoon, with creative robots and free food. In the evening, an extraordinarily long line formed to see Scotch’n’Soda’s “The Little Mermaid.” Students, by this point, were having fun, walking around in groups and talking loudly.
On Saturday, the weather cleared up, though it was still a bit cold and windy. Carnival really seemed to kick off at this point. Alumni and children packed the campus. The carnival rides were being used by local kids and Carnegie Mellon students alike.
People formed long lines to go on the Ferris Wheel and the swings and to eat at food trucks. Buggy races, compressed in duration due to the rain, began in the morning and lasted until the early afternoon.
Students stood alongside the road to watch, their experience assisted by sports announcers and a massive screen. There were free hot dogs and Millie’s ice cream.
The booths were technically impressive and packed with crowds of students. Alongside the UC, there were miniature booths called dog houses. Alumni gathered in a large tent for their reunion. There was a performance by a musician named Ruel, with opening sets by Flyana Boss and Lyn Lapid.
On Sunday, the final day of Carnival, the sun continued to shine. In the afternoon, there was a Holi celebration on the Mall.
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