Students enjoyed multiple inflated attractions at Quad Day, from bouncy castles to a corn maze.
Last Saturday, students from all grades gathered for an evening packed with games, inflatables, dorm-run booths, and a strong sense of community. From first-time attendees to returning seniors, the event served as both a social hub and a celebration of Andover life. Once again, good food and bouncy houses proves to be a key in building strong connections.
For new students, Quad Night was instrumental in making new friendships in their Andover journey. Boson Bai ’29 was grateful for the camaraderie at the different attractions.
“Quad Night helps us build community because we are able to all come together to interact in one specific activity, helping us bond better because we are doing those activities all together. We can also reminisce and talk about those activities after we do them,” said Bai.
Among the crowds, there was a captivating rivalry between the two quads. Elliot Chai ’28 emphasized his appreciation of the cooperation and friendly competition between West Quad North and West Quad South. To him, Quad Night was a step towards future combined events.
“The unique part of [Quad Night] is that there are not a lot of other events that are as inclusive. It’s in West Quad North, but it’s also close to West Quad South, so it’s a unique thing that West Quad North and West Quad South can host together,” said Chai.
The festival collected huge crowds of students across grades and clusters. Travis Guan ’29 spoke about his reason for participating in Quad Night.
“It’s right outside our dorm, and I heard about it, so I was like, ‘Why not check it out?’ It’s a convenient place to go, and I wanted to go because of the food. I like food. Everyone likes food,” said Guan.
The festival itself offered activities with varying intensities, creating a unique atmosphere at each booth. Anay Mehta-Manghani ’29 was satisfied by the wide range of experiences offered, from racing up a tower to a stand-up comedy battle.
“Everyone was hyping [Quad Night] up, so I thought I’d give it a look. Turns out it was extremely fun. My favorite part [of Quad Night] was the variety, there’s different things like the corn maze, golf course, good music, lots of people, and really good energy,” said Mehta-Manghani.
Apart from gigantic inflatables and recreational sports provided by the festival, students in both West Quad South and North dorms created their own stations. Junu Lee ’29, in particular, enjoyed these student run booths.
“I like the part that the dorms in West Quad can come up with their own games that represent them, and it’s fun to try out different kinds of games that different people come up with,” said Lee.
More than just a festive evening of food and activities, the event highlighted the value of shared experiences in building meaningful connections among students. In a campus environment that can often feel fast-paced and fragmented, Quad Night serves as a vibrant reminder that community thrives when students take the time to gather, engage, and celebrate the spaces they call home.
“It’s good for the community to get together and do these things, it’s a nice opportunity to socialize with everyone in the Quads. It creates a unique bond between your dorm, your quad, and your friends, everyone you know in the Quads. Also, I like fried dough,” said Guan.
