Fallfest Draws Hundreds

Hundreds of students came to the Quad on Saturday to enjoy music performed by their peers, food provided by Harvard University Dining Services, and amusement rides paid for by the Undergraduate Council at the first annual “Fallfest.”

Fallfest was created in the same spirit as the council’s Springfest.

Melissa Eccleston ’04, the social chair of the council’s Campus Life Committee (CLC), said the purpose of Fallfest is to “just have fun.”

“We all worked hard and part of the UC is to give students the chance to come outside, relax, play together and eat together in nice weather,” she said.

Because last year’s Springfest cost the council about $15,000, less than half of what the festival used to cost, the council was able to spend nearly $10,000 on Fallfest.

Since Fallfest featured student rather than professional bands, it was less expensive for the council to organize.

The Harvard Concert Commission, which organized the upcoming Dispatch concert, has taken over the responsibility of recruiting professional bands. Fallfest’s musical lineup included the student bands Subject to Change, Invisible Downtown and Second Act.

By saving money on music, the council was able to pay $6,100 for amusement rides like “Moonbounce,” “Gladiator Joust,” and “Bounce ’n Box.” A new addition this year at Fallfest was the popular game “Laser Tag”.

Robert Gee ’02, the services chair of CLC, said he thought the new attraction was the best.

“With Laser Tag, it’s interactive—10 people can go in at a time and play,” he said.

The Quad was chosen by the council to target Quad residents rather than the first-years and River House residents who usually attend Springfest.

“The Quad is the perfect venue for Fallfest and it’s nice to finally have something out here aside from the social studies office,” said Arielle Cohen ’04.

Students who attended the festival spent the afternoon playing frisbee, whiffle ball and football, while others checked out the rides and stood on line for the available food such as cotton candy, fried dough and popcorn.

Council President Paul A. Gusmorino ’02 said he considered Fallfest a great success.

“It was the best of Springfest combined with a beautiful sunset on the Quad,” he said.