Students willing to put on cross-country skis and fun costumes participated in the annual Carni Classic, a 3 kilometer. race at the golf course at 2 p.m. Thursday. For those who preferred to stay on campus, the Human Dog Sled Race, held on the Green at 4 p.m, provided a fun option, with students braving the wintery weather in crazy costumes. The event featured prizes, music, games, and refreshments.
The opening Winter Carnival ceremonies on the Green at 7 p.m. Thursday, which officially kicked off the weekend's festivities, were a must-see. Speeches from President James Wright and the Winter Carnival coordinators welcomed students, community members and visitors. The snow sculpture, which depicts a rabbit plunging down a slide in accordance with this year's theme, "Dartmouth Down the Rabbit Hole," was unveiled. Following this presentation, those gathered listened to a capella performances before heading to the Collis Center to warm up with tea, hot cocoa and cookies at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, which also featured a screening of the classic Disney version of "Alice in Wonderland," along with tea cups for attendees to deocrate.
A word of advice: don't rage too hard on Thursday night because more activities will begin bright and early Friday morning. Starting at 9:30 a.m., the Dartmouth Skiway is the place to be. Students can and ski for only 99 cents courtesy of 99Rock and the Dartmouth Skiway.
If hitting the slopes isn't for you, then be a spectator and cheer on Dartmouth's ski teams. Men's and women's races will last from 9:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Back on campus, brave students can chill out at Occom Pond by participating in the Polar Bear Swim, a popular Winter Carnival tradition. The Roth Center, only a few steps from Occom, will serve hot cocoa and cookies during the event.
The fun continues all day Saturday as students can head back to the Skiway for more skiing and spectating. From noon to 3 p.m., students can really get into the spirit of Winter Carnival at the Occom Pond Party at the DOC House and on Occom Pond. There will be ice skating, snow sculptures, tubing and of course food to tide over the revelers.
A 3,500-gallon Mountain Hot Springs hot tub on Massachusetts Row will surely warm up students who have been enjoying the outdoors all weekend. Don't forget your bathing suit if you're planning a stroll across campus.
On Saturday and Sunday, students will have the opportunity to get a panoramic view of campus during the Baker Tower tours between noon and 4 p.m. at Baker Library. These special tours -- offered just a few times a year -- are a must; Climbing the bell tower this weekend will afford quiet views of a not-so-quiet, snow-blanketed campus.
