Sebastian who? UM’s beloved Ibis may be upstaged on Friday by some rubber ducks and a towering Ferris wheel on the Foote Green.
For the 10th straight year, Canes Night Live will host Canes Carnival on the last day of spring semester classes from 8 p.m. to midnight.
“This event is Hurricane Productions’ largest for the semester,” said senior John Lake, the organization’s chair.
College students often reminisce about childhood days when there were no papers to write, presentations to give, projects to complete or exams to study for. So, CNL planners figure that nothing makes students feel more like a kid than going to a carnival. Canes Carnival has become a UM tradition. The event’s 10-year anniversary will be no exception, and senior Alex Achorn, chair of CNL, plans to take it to a whole new level. After all, “it’s UM’s official end-of-classes celebration,” he said.
What will make this year’s “all-out carnival” stand out from previous ones? Achorn said that it probably will be the mechanical rides.
“For the past few years, they’ve wanted us to stray away from mechanical rides, but this year is different,” he said. “Since it’s the carnival’s 10th anniversary, they’re letting us do something special.”
The focal point will most likely be the 50-foot Ferris wheel that will overlook Richter Library. Other rides will include a “Rock-o-Plane” and chair swings. In addition to the rides, there will be inflatable attractions including slides, bounce houses and bumper cars. There will also be a games tent on the Green that will feature classic carnival games, such as balloon darts and ring toss. Games will be hosted by co-programming organizations.
“We are trying to include as many clubs and organizations to help in the games tent,” Achorn said.
In addition, students can enjoy free popcorn, cotton candy and funnel cakes throughout the night. The first 300 students will be awarded vouchers to the food trucks. Live entertainment will be provided by three campus bands: “Sirens and Sealions,” “The Big Tasty” and “The Sunbears.”
Sophomores Josh Weiner and Alex Carmona are looking forward to the carnival.
“It’s pretty awesome how the school brings the carnival to campus,” Weiner said.
Carmona agreed.
“Josh and I are definitely going,” Carmona said. “It sounds like it’s going to be even better than last year, not to mention it’s a great way to wrap up the semester.”
Achorn said there will also be “a bunch of giveaways and ways you can win prizes.” But students won’t have to wait for the last day of classes to catch the carnival fever giveaways.
“There will be promotions going around two weeks before classes end just to market the carnival,” Achorn said.
One thing to look for: rubber ducks. Students can pick them out of campus fountains and redeem the prize code on the bottom at the carnival.
If you go
WHAT: Canes Carnival featuring rides, games, free prizes and food trucks
WHERE: The Green
WHEN: 8 p.m. to midnight Friday
The event is free. For more information, visit facebook.com/canesnightlive.