Almost Midnight Breakfast: A CMU Tradition
By Jessica Rea
Every campus has its traditions that somehow become the heartbeat of student life. At Carnegie Mellon University, Almost Midnight Breakfast is one of those rare events that manages to be a moment of warmth tucked into the most chaotic time of the Fall semester. The annual occasion, held on the Tuesday before Reading Day, remains a free-event where students can share a meal, a moment, and a breath before the final push.
For years, CMU students have counted on this. As finals week looms and the pressure builds, staff and faculty roll up their sleeves, step behind griddles, and cook- literally. Made-to-order omelets sizzling, nearly 4,000 french toast sticks disappearing, and 8 gallons of maple syrup poured out to perfection. The tradition continues because it’s about more than just the foods being served, it’s about the gesture. Seeing professors — the same ones assigning projects keeping students up at night — flipping eggs at 10:00PM creates a sense of connection that’s hard to manufacture.
To feed the 1,149 students who poured into Rangos Ballroom on December 9th 2025, CMU Dining Services and CMU Fraternity & Sorority Life teamed up once again to host the event. The event was catered by Chartwells Higher Education, whose team brought the culinary muscle needed to pull off a late‑night breakfast of this scale.
Sarah Irvin, Coordinator for Fraternity & Sorority Life notes, "There is a unique magic in Almost Midnight Breakfast; it's a moment where our entire campus takes a collective breath during finals. This year, the spirit of service was on full display as 112 volunteers from across our Fraternity and Sorority Life community and faculty/staff departments worked side-by-side. Together, they provided over 1,100 students with more than just a meal; they provided a sense of belonging and a vital reminder that at this university, you never have to cross the finish line alone."
Help Shape the Next Almost Midnight Breakfast
Help shape the future of this long-standing CMU tradition. If you could choose next year’s breakfast entrée, what would it be? Vote here!