Carnegie Mellon University
April 03, 2014

Media Advisory: Carnegie Mellon Celebrates Spring Carnival, A Century of Tradition

Several Oakland-area Roads Closed During Carnival and Sweepstakes Buggy Races; Please Note Traffic Alert Below

Contact: Abby Simmons  / 412-268-4290 / abbysimmons@cmu.edu

Spring Carnival logoPITTSBURGH—Carnegie Mellon University's 100th annual Spring Carnival is set for April 10-12. The following is a sample of events that are free and open to the public.

This year's opening ceremony at 3 p.m., Thursday April 10 on the "Midway" will include remarks by CMU President Subra Suresh, City of Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto and Spring Carnival Committee members. Student organizations are building booths focused on the theme "The Best of The Best." The structures, often reaching two stories in height, will include "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Despicable Me," "Games Through The Ages" and "Pittsburgh: The Best City In The World."

A ceremony naming the University Center in honor of President Emeritus and University Professor Jared L. Cohon will be held at 12:15 p.m., Friday, April 11 in Kirr Commons on the University Center's first floor.

The Sweepstakes buggy races will be held Friday and Saturday mornings, April 11-12. Peduto, Councilman Dan Gilman (DC'04) and Sweepstakes Committee members will offer remarks and participate in an official ribbon cutting to open the course at 8 a.m. Friday. Buggies are aerodynamic pushcarts designed and built by student organizations. Each buggy holds a driver who steers around a 4,400-foot course. Just an inch off the ground, buggies reach speeds of nearly 35 miles per hour. Each team includes five students who push a buggy in a relay-style race up hills and to the finish line. Student organizations cmuTV and WRCT 88.3-FM will stream live event coverage from their websites.

The 20th annual Mobot Races hosted by the School of Computer Science will begin at noon, Friday, April 11 on the paved walk in front of Wean Hall. Participants, including students and alumni, will race autonomous vehicles ("MObile roBOTs") they have built along a slalom-style course.

Mac Miller, a Pittsburgh native, will headline the Activities Board's concert. A student act followed by Icona Pop will open for the rapper at 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 11. The outdoor concert will take place in between Baker and Doherty halls and does not require a ticket. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will move to Wiegand Gym in the University Center, and a ticket will be required for admission. All tickets for the indoor location have been distributed.

More information is available at http://springcarnival.org and http://www.cmu.edu/alumni.

When: Buggy races will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday, April 11, and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 12. Carnival activities will be held 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Thursday, April 10; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, April 11; and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 12.

Where: Spring Carnival activities will take place in the Morewood Gardens parking lot, across the street from Cyert and Hamburg halls. Buggy races will be held on Tech and Frew streets, and Schenley Drive.

Traffic Alert: The City of Pittsburgh has granted permits to close several Oakland-area roads during CMU's Spring Carnival and Sweepstakes Buggy Races. Forbes and Morewood avenues will be closed near the campus intermittently from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, April 4, to allow students to transport their booths to the Spring Carnival Midway.
 
Margaret Morrison Street, Tech Street, Frew Street, Circuit Road and Schenley Drive (Panther Hollow and Schenley bridges included) will be closed from 5 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12. Both the City of Pittsburgh Police and Carnegie Mellon Police will be present during the races to help monitor traffic. Roads will reopen by 12:30 p.m. If inclement weather causes the cancellation of the Friday and Saturday competitions, races will be held Sunday, April 13, during the same time frame.

Phipps Conservatory will remain open during normal hours. Due to road closures, visitors will need to park on the streets by the Carnegie Library and the surrounding area. City of Pittsburgh Police stationed at barricades will give bus drivers instructions for passenger unloading.

On-campus parking will be limited for non-permit holders and campus visitors April 7-11. Additional parking will be available for $5 (cash only) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, April 11 at the Bob O'Connor Golf Course at Schenley Park, 5370 Schenley Drive, and a shuttle service will be provided to and from campus. Free parking will be available in the East Campus Garage on a first-come, first-served basis on Saturday, April 12. More parking information is available on CMU's Alumni Association website.

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