2/24/23
Hi everyone! I hope you are well! Amherst held an annual event this past Sunday (2/19) called Winterfest, and I thought for this week’s blog, I’d write Winterfest activities and what I love about the limited traditions we have on campus. If you have any questions, please send me an email at sgoldsmith24@amherst.edu.
I always enjoy Winterfest, and other events like it, because I get to see almost the entire student body come together to have a shared experience and enjoy the events. Amherst doesn’t have many traditions, so I love when we can all do something together and strengthen the sense of community on campus.
Activities
Winterfest held in the general vicinity of the gym, and is spread across three areas. Outside the Orr Rink was smores-making, and it was nice to stand around the fire for a little bit and enjoy the warmth. Inside Orr Rink, the ice rink was open for people to skate on. There was music playing, and the skates typically reserved for the ice hockey teams were free for everyone to use. I struggle with these ice hockey skates – they don’t have the toe pick at the end that figure skates have, and I find it much harder to balance. So I was slow, but it was fun to skate with my friends and watch the more-confident skaters zoom around and do turns.
The third location was in the Coolidge Cage, which is typically a versatile practice space but for Winterfest was decked out in decorations and had booths to visit. There was an inflatable slide in the center of the room, which people could climb up and go down, and there were a few photo stations (for example, one was set up to look like you were on a ski lift). There were ice sculptures outside, which I always enjoy looking at, and one of Amherst’s large inflatable mammoths was set up to welcome students in.
There was a stage set up in one corner of the room, with an acapella group from LA performing called the Filharmonic. They sang and made jokes, and I had a good time listening to them with my friends.
Food
As I mentioned, there was a smores-making station outside of the ice rink, but there were also several food options inside. The smorgasbord made for a fun Sunday dinner before a tough week of classes; for savory options, there was a poutine-making station and dumplings.
There was also lots of dessert; a donut-decorating/dressing up station, Belgian waffles, and little pieces of cake and tarts that all made for a very well-rounded dessert.
Thank you for reading! Please email me at sgoldsmith24@amherst.edu if you have any questions about Amherst!