Syracuse University’s Winter Carnival 2008 features events to celebrate spirit of winter season

Syracuse University’s Winter Carnival 2008 features events to celebrate spirit of winter seasonFebruary 04, 2008Matthew R. Snydermrsnyder@syr.edu

Need a cure for the wintertime blues? Syracuse University’s Winter Carnival, to be held Feb. 21-24 on the SU campus, is just the remedy you’re looking for.

The festivities begin on Thursday, Feb. 21, with the annual chili cookoff from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on the patio of H.B. Crouse Hall, showcasing the culinary talents of faculty, staff and students. The four-day festival will conclude with a favorite winter pastime — ice skating — on Sunday, Feb. 24, from 7-10 p.m. In between, the schedule is filled with speakers, performances and fun events that celebrate the spirit of the winter season.

Winter Carnival Days, featuring hot chocolate, cookies, arts and crafts and entertainment, will be held in the atrium of the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Feb. 21-22 and in the Goldstein Student Center from 5-7 p.m. on Feb. 22. Winter Carnival competitions in a variety of athletic pursuits will take place throughout the festival, including a Human Dog Sled Race at noon on Feb. 23 in Walnut Park. A snow sculpture competition will take place from 5-7 p.m. that day on the Quad.

A variety of cultural performances will also take place during Winter Carnival, including the DanceWorks Annual Show Feb. 21-23 at 8 p.m. in the Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium; an R&B Extravaganza on Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. in the Schine Underground; and The Warehouse Architecture Theatre Show on Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. in the Schine Underground. Tickets for each of these performances will be available at the Schine Box Office, 443-4517.

“Winter Carnival is a time-honored tradition on the SU campus, dating back to 1930,” says Jennifer Bevilacqua Kirkegaard, associate director of the Office of Student Life. “This year we are expanding our events to include friendly competitions. All students are encouraged to participate and come and enjoy this wonderful winter festival in snowy Syracuse.”

A complete schedule of Winter Carnival events can be found at http://studentlife.syr.edu.

Winter Carnival is sponsored by Division of Student Affairs, with support from the Office of Alumni Relations, SU Food Services and the Department of Athletics.