Last week, we took a look at some of the tremendous snow sculptures built during past Winter Carnivals. While the snow sculptures were arguably the most eye catching event of the weekend, there were plenty of other activities happening around campus. The Winter Weekend Committee always worked hard to plan a jammed packed, and occasionally snow filled, weekend.
Basketball games and sculpture building kept students busy throughout the day, and musical acts provided entertainment for the evening. Some years saw big names perform, such as the Shirlelles in 1967, and folk singer Jonathan Edwards in 1971. Other years saw not so big names, but it wasn’t for lack of trying –
We [PKT] are in the process of attempting to secure a top name band for a concert in the near future. It was our hope to engineer it for Winter Weekend but we couldn’t pull it off. -The Westerner, March 2, 1971
The dinner dance was the most formal event, and was often reported as being the highlight of the weekend. And for good reason. The event, held off campus at locales such as Hotel Northampton, Shaker Farms Country Club, the Sheraton, and Kimball Tower in Springfield, featured cocktails, dancing, and a hearty dinner. And it was at this event that two important announcements were made – the winners of the snow sculpture contest, and the Winter Carnival Queen (and later, a Carnival King, too).
And you never knew what surprises the dinner dance held in store. In 1967, according to The Westerner, March 3rd, 1967, – “Every lady at the Dinner Dance received a stuffed kitten as a momentum of the Winter Carnival.” Why not?
So, who’s ready to resurrect this Western New England tradition?