Last Wednesday, the first annual Autumn Festival was held at the Union. Five hundred people showed up for an afternoon filled with stalls, food, and entertainment.
‘We wanted to have a huge staff and student galvanizing event at the beginning of the semester,’ said Lisa Ospitale, director of marketing. The springtime has featured the Strawberry Festival for the past thirteen years, and now the fall semester will host the Autumn Festival.
‘The event was originally scheduled in September, but due to logistic things we needed to move this to November,’ said Ospitale.
The first Strawberry Festival had a turnout of 25 people, but this Autumn Festival sold around 500 tickets. ‘There’s good food, there’s good music, it’s like the Strawberry fest in November,’ said senior Bin Lu.
Entertainment was provided by Glass Houses, a Billy Joel tribute band. The lead singer, Henry Haid, began his career playing at piano bars, and now sings covers for Billy Joel songs. He was also the lead in the musical ‘Movin’ Out,’ for two years.
‘It was a good rehearsal, it was organized and of course I would come back,’ said Haid after his performance.
‘The band was good, people really enjoyed them,’ said Lincois Anderson, graduate assistant for the commuter association. ‘The drawback was that the music was inside and it was really loud.’
According to Ospitale, the event was originally supposed to be held outdoors, but was later moved inside. ‘That way, we don’t need to worry about the weather,’ said Ospitale.
Tickets went on sale prior to the event, which could have been purchased at the dining halls around campus. The cost covered for a menu featuring customary dishes for the fall season.
People could choose one entr’eacute;e and were entitled to many other items. One station served lo mein and mango lassi from Jasmine. Another station served turkey legs, in regular and halal variety. There was also a kosher section serving meat dishes and pies.
Aside from the entree, people could get pumpkin soup, baked sweet potatoes, roasted corn, a beverage, ice cream, and candy apples. The University Bookstore was also giving away free gifts.
Other activities included skee ball and a story time session for the children of faculty members. The children that showed up for story time ranged from ages 3-8, and they listened to the reading of Leonardo the Terrible Monster, by Mo Williams. The children also participated in a door hanger making activity.
Stalls were set up all around the main lobby of the Union. There was a pottery sale, and other tables were sponsored by on-campus organizations. People could engage in making jewelry, key chains, and bookmarks. There was a station for making stress balls. The Commuter Student Association had supplies for paper leaf decorations, which would be hung in the SAC commuter lounge.
There was an Israeli fair promoting different educational opportunities abroad in Israel. ‘There have been a number of people coming and enquiring about programs to get information,’ said Jessica Neissani, Soroff Israel family fellow, Hillel Foundation.
The event was made possible by Campus Dining Services, along with the Office of Student Affairs, Office of Diversity and Affirmative Action, Apple Computer, and the University Bookstore.