The annual Fall Carnival attracted students of all grades to the Flagstaff Courtyard on Saturday evening. The event featured many dynamic activities including a corn maze, a bouncy house, caricatures and name drawing, as well as a fierce bull-ride. Student attendees shared their experiences at these various stations.
Jake Santos ’28 in front of the bouncy houses of Fall Carnival.
Estella Gu ’29 – Corn Maze
“I did the corn maze with my friends. I[’ve done] it in the past during Quad Night, so it felt slightly the same, but it was basically just walking through it, and then coming back to the beginning. Honestly, I don’t think we even got to a dead end or whatever, so we aced it. There were a lot of little kids in there, too. I think it’s a nice walking exercise, and it’s a pretty calm thing that you can do.”
Parker Anawalt ’27 – Bull Ride
“I was just on the bull riding machine. It was fun because [my friend] recorded me, and it was really funny. [There was a line,] and some girls cut us, and they were really mean about it, so maybe that’s a cultural change we should make within the school. I recommend getting a petting zoo next year, so I can connect with animals and lower my stress levels.”
Breanna Ren ’29 – Bouncy House
“I went in the bouncy house. To me, they’re pretty fun and sort of like trampolines. Sometimes they feel structurally unsound, but I think it’s part of the fun. It reminded me of my childhood because I haven’t been in a bouncy house in years. It can be really fun, but it might also spike someone’s stress levels.”
Reika Fukushima ’30 – Name Design
“I was actually impressed by how ornate and intricate the art was because I genuinely thought that the final product was near, but they were still working on it. I saw the two artists communicating with each other regarding my name, because my name isn’t very conventional, so I guess it takes a bit more effort relative to other names to spell out and draw. Also the amount of care, effort, intention and love put into each letter of each person’s name, especially given the lines behind us, is genuinely admirable and so inspiring. We should appreciate it. It’s a nice keepsake.”
Phillip Molina ’28 – Caricature
“Me and my friends all got caricatures of ourselves. They’re very flattering and very well done and super funny. I love it. They did such a good job. Given that we were all here before 9 p.m. when the event was scheduled to start, the lines were pretty short, and it made for a very fast process. I’ve gone to all three fall festivals since my freshman fall, and I’ll say that it’s a really fun way to start the school year. It’s a great event to meet people and have some fun. I would recommend everyone to go.”
