Despite some miserable weather, World Carnival took place today at St. Mary’s College under a tent on the admissions field. It is the college’s thirteenth year and the largest student-organized event at the campus.
“This year’s World Carnival is an opportunity to embrace diversity and promote cross-cultural unity throughout our community,” said SMCM senior Emily Smedick, student director of campus programming and co-chair of the World Carnival Planning Committee. “This year we are adding several new interactive activities, such as human bowling and an obstacle course,” she said.
Unfortunately this year’s World Carnival was a little damp, but there was plenty of carnival fare, ethnic specialties, and a vegan bake sale, as well as clothes and hand-made earrings, bags, other items for sale from local food and craft vendors under the great white tent.
Opening ceremonies began at 11:30 a.m. with the reading of the Dr. Seuss book The Sneeches. After that cultural performances of live music were scheduled throughout the day, including Pieces of East (an Indian American folk music group), dragon dancers, a Latin jazz group, and a belly dance group of SMCM alumni. Several student groups also performed including Raices Hispanas (the Hispanic Student Union), the Dance Club, and the SMCM Gospel Choir.
On previous World Carnival days the fields have been full of students enjoying the music stalls and sun, but even with the rain today’s event still drew most students out of their rooms and dancing on the grass. Not only for First Years, but also Juniors, this will have been their first opportunity to experience the St. Mary’s annual tradition of World Carnival. Last year the event was abruptly cancelled due to a reported bomb on the campus. Students, visitors and vendors had to be ousted, and police were called to investigate what turned out to be a light fixture with some hanging wires.
