A Spring Carnival Primer for Parents
Spring Carnival is one of Carnegie Mellon’s longest running and most beloved traditions. It began more than 100 years ago, with roots in both “Qualification Day,” when "freshmen plebes" were officially “accepted,” and in the May Festival of the Margaret Morrison Carnegie College.
In 1920, the tradition grew into Campus Week and the first Buggy Sweepstakes were held with crates and rain barrels on wheels. A Campus Queen was voted on annually for several decades. The last Campus Week took place in 1929. Float parades, which began in the 1930s, became Booth in the 1950s, the same decade that the popular canoe tilt evolved into plank jousting, where teams tried to knock each other off something. The last Campus Queen was crowned in the 1970s, and programming shifted to become more entertainment-based. An Activities Board (AB) was established and began organizing concerts that have featured everyone from B.B. King to Mac Miller.
The modern Spring Carnival and Reunion Weekend—this year held on April 16-18, 2020—consists of more than 100 events, many of which are planned and executed by students. Many alumni come back for the Spring Carnival festivities and special Reunion Weekend events, adding to the collegiate atmosphere. Each year has a theme; the 2020 themse is "Adventure Awaits."
For many students, Carnival festivities begin on Friday, April 10, during “Move On,” when student organizations building booths move their supplies, materials, tools and pre-fabricated components onto Midway. Build Week concludes with the grand opening of Midway on Thursday afternoon of Carnival weekend.
A few of the student-planned event highlights include:
Midway: Located in the College of Fine Arts parking lot and providing the backdrop for Spring Carnival, Midway hosts Booth and features carnival rides, concessions, musical acts, improv comedy troupes and other performances.
Buggy (also called Sweepstakes): Since 1920, this unique race has zoomed around Flagstaff Hill next to the CMU campus during Spring Carnival. It is part uphill relay race (in which the vehicle and driver are pushed by runners) and part downhill gravity race, with exciting turns and speeds up to 40 mph. In 2020, Buggy celebrates 100 years of this amazing sport, and the students and alumni are working hard to create an extraordinary 100-year celebration experience. Learn more at cmu.edu/buggy.
Booth: One of the biggest showpieces of Spring Carnival, these student-built, multi-level structures are designed around a theme and include interactive games and elaborate decorations. Booths are judged in four categories: fraternity, sorority, independent and blitz (smaller booths). Alpha Phi Omega builds a non-competing concession stand and all the proceeds go to charity.
Mobot: Mobot made its debut in 1994. In this timed event, autonomous robots try to navigate an outdoor course in order to reach the finish line. Prizes are awarded to the first-, second- and third-place finishers, as well as for Open Class, Judges’ Choice, Course Record and MoboJoust.
Scotch’n’Soda: One of the nation's oldest student theatre organizations, Carnegie Mellon’s Scotch'n'Soda Theatre is a student-run group dedicated to the development of theatrical works and to educating the campus community on all aspects of theatre. Its biggest show is held during Spring Carnival, with multiple performances occurring throughout the weekend. The 2020 Spring Carnival show is “It Shoulda Been You.”
Everyone in the campus community, families included, are invited to attend Carnival. Register at alumni.cmu.edu/carnival and make your first stop the Welcome Tent on Midway where you can get your free Carnival giveaway and register to win a grand prize, as well as purchase special Carnival 2020 and Buggy 100 memorabilia.
Other activities include the Donut & Buggy Watch Tent at the preliminary Buggy heats, Activities Tent and Wellness Tent. The latter has numerous happenings throughout the weekend, including massages, virtual reality experiences, student demos and kid-focused areas. An All-Campus Lunch on Friday and Food Truck Festival on Saturday provide additional opportunities for fun and fellowship among students, alumni, families and the CMU community.
Learn more about 2020 Carnival, see a full list of events, and register to attend
A Glimpse of Carnival Past
A buggy from back in the day.
Jousting at Spring Carnival.