Do you want to build a snowman? Over the years, Syracuse University students have found ways to make the frigid winters a little more fun. One of the biggest ways is through Winter Carnival! Each winter, Traditions Commission upholds the long-standing tradition of Winter Carnival which consists of fun, free activities.
Now you may be wondering, what is Traditions Commission? Traditions Commission is a small student organization on campus with the purpose of carrying on the traditions of Syracuse University. Each winter, we organize Winter Carnival with different theme each year. This year the Winter Carnival theme is ‘S’Winter,’ as in summer in the winter. With a record number of snow days this winter, we thought it was necessary to bring a little sun to Syracuse! With a diverse list of activities and cross-campus partnerships to reach even more students, there should be an event that suits just about anyone’s interests. Check out this year’s Winter Carnival highlights:
Winter Carnival Days
S’Winter will kick off on Tuesday, Feb. 25, with free hot cocoa on the Quad from 9 to 11 a.m. Be sure to grab a cup on your way to class! After you warm up with some cocoa, get your free Winter Carnival swag, a caricature and free food during Winter Carnival Days on Tuesday, Feb. 25 and Wednesday, Feb. 26 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Life Sciences Atrium.
B’Ball and Bingo
Show off your ’Cuse spirit and win a prize! On Wednesday, Feb. 26, we’ll also be hosting a basketball and bingo event from 7 to 9 p.m. for your chance to win a prize and cheer on the men’s basketball team as they take on the Pittsburgh Panthers. There’ll be awesome prizes and a ton of free food!
THE Chili Cook Off
Ask anyone who’s experienced the Chili Cook Off before, and they’ll tell you it’s one of the best events on campus. So come by on Thursday, Feb. 27, as we host a chili cook off on the HBC patio. It’s a fun opportunity to taste test a variety of chili recipes submitted by the campus community and interact with our fabulous judges.
Cozy Capella
On Thursday, February 27, at 7 p.m., we will be partnering with the a capella council to host ‘Cozy Capella.’ This will be a free show with a ton of free food. Comfy pajamas are strongly encouraged!
Winter Sports Demo
New this year, we’ve partnered with the recreation team at Barnes Center at The Arch to host a winter sports demo on the Quad! They’ll be demonstrating the cross country ski and snowshoe opportunities we have on campus, and it’s all free! Stop by the Quad on Friday, Feb. 28, from noon to 2 p.m. and try out the equipment!
Much More
Don’t miss out on the rest of the week and even more free food (have you caught on to the trend here?) and prizes! Be sure to check out the Moonlight Snowshoe Hike, Paint Night, Glow Skate and Trivia Night!
I hope you all are as excited as we are, and I hope to see you all at the different Winter Carnival events! They are free and a fun way to get involved on campus, take a little study break and make some new friends. If you have any questions, please refer to the Winter Carnival website for more details. We are looking forward to bringing some sun to Syracuse University this S’Winter!
Written by Samantha Walters ’20, Whitman School of Management, Traditions Commission