Big Red Carnival

A man backflips five feet into the air and lands perfectly on his pogo stick as the surrounding crowd erupts in applause. Across Ice Rink A, other students play carnival games to win plush stuffed animals and other prizes. Fluorescent red and white lights illuminate the assortment of food and balloon animals as people flow into this year’s Big Red Carnival.

The event made a comeback last Saturday after it was left off the calendar in 2018. Featuring various performances and traditional carnival games, the event was a great chance for both new and returning students to connect with their peers and meet new friends.

“The first thing I noticed was the red and white lights and the big ‘E’ in the middle [of the floor]. It really set the mood,” prep Rohan Modi said. “I stayed for a while, and I was able to talk to a lot of new people.”

Returning upper Christina Xiao noted the vibrant appearance of the carnivals but was discouraged by the long wait times. “The lights, slight fog and music created an exciting atmosphere. However, I was kind of disappointed that certain things took long, like the lines for the caricatures and balloon animals,” she said. “It made sense, since the artists were working their hardest to make them quickly but accurately, but I wish there had been more of them to help the lines go faster.”

Xiao agreed with Modi on the event’s ability to connect Exonians across grade levels, saying, “It’s a bonding opportunity for friends, and also for the community,” she said. “It’s great to have had an event like this in the beginning of the year, where a lot of new people are coming in. I also feel like it wasn’t pressuring, because you could also go just for fun.”

Upper Phoebe Ibbotson agreed with Xiao. “It’s nice for the school to try to set up an event like this for people to socialize, have fun and let the stress out before classes and the normal school routine begins,” Ibbotson said. However, Ibbotson had some qualms with the activities presented at the carnival. She wished there could have been more activities that engaged students and encouraged them to talk with one another. “I don’t think the activities were succeeding in what the school wanted to achieve, but the intent for wanting to have it was positive,” Ibbotson said.

On the other hand, lower Akili Tulloch enjoyed the various booths offered. “I’d probably say I liked the break-a-plate one the most,” he said. “It’s very satisfying!” However, he voiced concerns similar to Xiao’s criticism of the long lines.

Lower Shantelle Subkhanberdina appreciated the chance to meet new people. “It was a little too smoky, but I was walking around and met a lot of new people.” She added that the red and white lights were great for photos. “I’ve been trying to get on the Exeter Instagram,” she said.

Lower Grace Ding was glad for the opportunity to socialize with her peers. “I hadn’t seen a lot of friends since it was the beginning of the year so it was great to catch up with them in a nice environment instead of awkwardly in the pathways,” Ding said. “I think they should do it again.”

All in all, Tulloch believed that having the event, although not perfect, was important. “It served more as a social event than as a carnival event,” he said. “Which is what I think they were going for––I would have wanted this last year.”