Annual Fall Fest brings barbecue, concert, comedian
Despite all the outdoor events and good weather, Bob Saget's Saturday night performance proved to be Fall Fest's biggest draw
Hopkins' annual autumn celebration began Friday afternoon with the genial Fall Fest Kickoff Cookout on the Beach.
With decent food, a charmingly relaxing reggae band, picnic tables and the blessing of good weather, the event was pleasant and well-organized. Attendance, however, was only moderate, especially when compared to the Beach Barbecue at the beginning of September.
The entertainment continued Friday night, with a free outdoor screening of Evan Almighty on the Upper Quad. After the film, the musical act Once Okay Twice performed as well.
Saturday, the Festival went into full swing, with a morning kickball tournament and a free lunch.
There was even the opportunity to engage in the arcane sport of laser tag.
But for many the highlight of the weekend came that evening, in the form of comedian and ex-Full House cast member Bob Saget. At a packed show in Shriver Hall, Saget entertained Hopkins students more than any other Fall Festival attraction. "Bob Saget was great," said Eddie Holzinger, a freshman engineer. "He was vulgar and hilariously funny."
Saget's performance was just the beginning of a long night of unusual activities. Casino Night allowed students to play blackjack, craps, poker and roulette to collect raffle tickets.
Although Holzinger describes the event as "pretty dead," it was nevertheless greatly enjoyed by a few, proud gamblers who actually participated heavily.
After Casino Night came another of the weekend's highlights: The Fall Fest Breakfast. An all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet occurring late Saturday night (technically, early Sunday morning), the buffet was well received by many hungry members of the community. Kimm Mooney, a freshman Public Health major, said that the event was "at the perfect time, later than the late-night diner, but earlier than breakfast."
Many students were drawn by something more than hash-browns and pancakes. Many - perhaps most - came for free merchandise, namely the distinctive black T-shirts being handed out for free. "I just went because it was free, and the shirts weren't bad either," Mooney said.
A plethora of other students agree, having journeyed to Levering Hall with these chic fashion items in mind. "Free shirt, free stuff, no complaints," said Peter Wildfeuer, a freshman mechanical engineer, summarizing student interest in the event.
The Fall Festival came to a close on Sunday with a brunch for alumni and some other minor activities.
For most people around the world, autumn is the season of melancholy decay. It is an in-between time - a limbo that casts a wistful glance back at summer before turning around and giving an awkward head-nod to winter.
Trees strip down to their cold branches; days shorten; the weather sours gratingly as the weeks progress. Gales of snow loom in the future, but in the hushed present, the most generous gift nature can muster for us is a pile of rusty-colored dead leaves.
With decent food, a charmingly relaxing reggae band, picnic tables and the blessing of good weather, the event was pleasant and well-organized. Attendance, however, was only moderate, especially when compared to the Beach Barbecue at the beginning of September.
The entertainment continued Friday night, with a free outdoor screening of Evan Almighty on the Upper Quad. After the film, the musical act Once Okay Twice performed as well.
Saturday, the Festival went into full swing, with a morning kickball tournament and a free lunch.
There was even the opportunity to engage in the arcane sport of laser tag.
But for many the highlight of the weekend came that evening, in the form of comedian and ex-Full House cast member Bob Saget. At a packed show in Shriver Hall, Saget entertained Hopkins students more than any other Fall Festival attraction. "Bob Saget was great," said Eddie Holzinger, a freshman engineer. "He was vulgar and hilariously funny."
Saget's performance was just the beginning of a long night of unusual activities. Casino Night allowed students to play blackjack, craps, poker and roulette to collect raffle tickets.
Although Holzinger describes the event as "pretty dead," it was nevertheless greatly enjoyed by a few, proud gamblers who actually participated heavily.
After Casino Night came another of the weekend's highlights: The Fall Fest Breakfast. An all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet occurring late Saturday night (technically, early Sunday morning), the buffet was well received by many hungry members of the community. Kimm Mooney, a freshman Public Health major, said that the event was "at the perfect time, later than the late-night diner, but earlier than breakfast."
Many students were drawn by something more than hash-browns and pancakes. Many - perhaps most - came for free merchandise, namely the distinctive black T-shirts being handed out for free. "I just went because it was free, and the shirts weren't bad either," Mooney said.
A plethora of other students agree, having journeyed to Levering Hall with these chic fashion items in mind. "Free shirt, free stuff, no complaints," said Peter Wildfeuer, a freshman mechanical engineer, summarizing student interest in the event.
The Fall Festival came to a close on Sunday with a brunch for alumni and some other minor activities.
For most people around the world, autumn is the season of melancholy decay. It is an in-between time - a limbo that casts a wistful glance back at summer before turning around and giving an awkward head-nod to winter.
Trees strip down to their cold branches; days shorten; the weather sours gratingly as the weeks progress. Gales of snow loom in the future, but in the hushed present, the most generous gift nature can muster for us is a pile of rusty-colored dead leaves.
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