Emma Hong ’28 and Carolyn Cao ’28 get caricatures drawn of them.
With horses trotting across the green, students flipping midair on the trampolines, and a line of hungry students waiting for mozzarella sticks, the annual Fall Festival once again transformed the Flagstaff courtyard into a bustling scene. This past Saturday, students gathered to unwind, connect, and experience one of the first Weekender events of the school year. For many new students, the festival was a thrilling introduction to campus life, while returning students viewed it with much more critical eyes.
For new Lower Jason Cai ’28, the event provided both relief and perspective. He described the festival as a welcome break from academics and an important space for connection.
“I wanted to escape from studying in Pan Athletic Center for three hours. The ponies were enthralling. I love seeing them prance through the green fields of Andover. This acts as a proper third place, similar to a café or lounge space in a city, where residents might meet and interact casually for the goal of human interaction. There’s bubbling excitement forcing through everyone’s veins here,” said Cai.
First-year students were struck by the energy of the evening and the novelty of the activities. Many highlighted the caricature drawings, hay rides, and trampolines as unique parts of the night.
“I thought it’d be fun, and it seemed like a nice event where everyone gathered. I think getting the drawings done, and though I haven’t done it yet, the trampoline stuff. I like how they got horses for horseback riding. This event is different because it stays up later, and has activities you normally wouldn’t have on campus. It’s really hyper and exciting,” said Anabelle Zhang ’29.
Returning students approached the festival with higher expectations, often comparing it to last year’s event. While some activities were still entertaining, the atmosphere felt different to some.
“Last year, it was a fun experience, so I came hoping it would be as hype and fun as last year. I had high expectations. Right now, the energy’s low. It’s mostly people standing in lines. It’s kind of a passive event, and we want it to be active,” said Maya Tomlinson ’28.
Other students thought logistical issues contributed to the quieter vibe. Delays in set up, long lines, underwhelming music choices left some wishing for improvements.
“It doesn’t have the same vibe as last year. It was less organized compared to other student gatherings, and there could have been more thought. If they had more lights, people would be more awake, and the music would be chill, but maybe too chill. Too calming. Too soothing. I was disappointed the ice cream truck didn’t get here until 9 p.m., when the weekender said 8:00 p.m., and they were setting up until 9,” said L Young ’27.
However, not all returners were critical, and some praised the Fall Festival for creating memorable experiences. Activities such as the bungee trampoline stood out as a rare occasion, as they are not often seen at high school events.
“I did the bungee jumping. That was a lot of fun. I don’t think many other high schools can say they let their students bungee jump on a random Saturday evening. Everyone is laughing, we’re joking. I think it’s a good sense of community,” said Anoushka Pandey ’28.
Despite differing perspectives, most agreed that the Fall Festival created valuable opportunities to bond outside dorms and classrooms. For many, it served as a reminder of Andover’s community values and the importance of shared spaces.
“I think adding to what I said, it’s to provide a third space where people interact casually for the goal of interaction, not for an accomplishment. That encourages student bonding and meeting new people,” said Cai.
