This past weekend, Ramapo’s annual Oktoberfest was enjoyed campus-wide, and the most integral facet of the festivities was the carnival. This fall staple is meant to be a reflection of the German tradition that is known worldwide.
“This is my first year doing it and there was a phenomenal turnout, I couldn’t have been more impressed by SGA for helping organize this event and the families that came out have been amazing,” said Eric Montgomery, financial and technological advisor for the Center for Student Involvement.
A rainy morning did not interfere with the merriments of the carnival. Instead of being held on the lawn of the band shell, the carnival was moved to the auxiliary gym in the Bradley Center.
The four hour affair offered a bevy of activities, many of which were crowded with several students at any given time. Some of the crafts included pumpkin painting and tie dying T-shirts, which gave students the opportunity to bring out their artistic side and be creative.
A big draw for any on-campus event is the food, and the Oktoberfest carnival was in no short supply. Fair foods like cotton candy, chocolate covered apples and Rita’s Italian ice were provided.
“This year had the best range of food, which gets a lot of people to come. It was a good turnout,” said senior Phil Sokoloff.
The carnival doubled as a family day, where students could bring their loved ones to enjoy a fun-filled day on campus. Many of the attendees were parents and children that enjoyed the carnival games and inflatable bounce house.
People outside of faculty were brought in to draw caricatures, spray temporary tattoos and operate an instant photo booth. These options were incredibly popular and students were especially drawn to the caricature artists that eventually took on an extensive line.
This portion of the Oktoberfest celebration was a big hit with the student body and is a feature often looked forward to each fall semester. The Student Government Association in conjunction with a number of other organizations held another enjoyable fall carnival for families and students to come together and make the most of a fresh semester. This was only part of the revelry as other events during the four-day-long celebration included Sports Fest, Fall Fallout, comedian Mike Lawrence, a haunted mansion and a sidewalk chalk competition.
brocha@ramapo.edu
Photo by Steve Fallon
