Winter Weekend Committee, 1968.

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.

Front page of the Westerner, March 1st, 1972, showing the highlights of Winter 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

 

Winter Carnival Dinner Dance, circa 1960s.

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?

In 1963, the fraternity Sigma Theta Chi proposed an idea in WNEC News, the student run newspaper on the Western New England Campus –

“Sigma Theta Chi Fraternity is very much interested in initiating an annual Western New England Winter Carnival.  This Carnival would take place on a weekend in late February or early March.  The carnival would consist of groups of students (clubs, fraternities, or individuals) making snow sculptures.  These sculptures would be judged on Saturday and prizes would be awarded at the Carnival Dance on that Saturday Evening.  -WNEC News, December 6, 1963

The response must have been positive, for only two years later, in 1966, Western New England held its first Winter Carnival Weekend.  The festivities typically consisted of musical entertainment, an off campus dinner-dance, crowning of a Carnival Queen, and a snow sculpture contest.

And we’re not just talking snowmen.

Pirate ship snow sculpture, Winter Carnival 1968.

Sculptures could be crafted and entered into the contest by fraternities or sororities, student clubs and organizations, or dormitories.  Cash prizes were even given to the winning teams, which were announced at the Carnival dinner-dance.  In 1966, $25 was awarded to each of the three winners for best craftsmanship, best adherence to theme, and best overall sculpture, and by 1976, the grand prize had inflated to $100!

Statue of Liberty snow sculpture, Winter Carnival, circa 1970.

The weather didn’t always cooperate, but students didn’t seem to let that stop them. Sigma Theta Chi, who won the contest in 1966 with their snow bear, reported their solution in The Westerner–

With the use of Dane Ferreira’s 10-ton truck – we managed to overcome the problem of no snow.  This showed real fraternal and school spirit.  To show good sportsmanship we sold EPS four tons of snow for $2.00.  Our rivals went to work immediately to design a beautiful mound.  What happened fellows?   –The Westerner, March 4, 1966

The last snow sculpture contest, as far as we can tell, was in 1977.  Winter Carnival Weekend, however, held on strong for another decade without the snow sculptures, and next week we’ll take a look at the other traditions of this festive weekend!