Unlike last year, indications of this winter's mild temperament came early enough that the Dartmouth Outing Club's Winter Carnival Council was able to plan events accordingly, avoiding the last-minute cancellations that plagued 2009's Carnival. The schedule of this weekend's Winter Carnival events will include a wider variety of indoor and outdoor programming than last year's, since Carnival Council, a 28-person committee, has reserved more space on campus, Winter Carnival Council chair Sophie Novack '11 said
Novack is a member of The Dartmouth Staff.
"We're trying to expand what we're doing with whatever seems appropriate with the theme," Novack said.
This year's Carnival theme, "I Came, I Saw, I Carnivaled," celebrates the cultures of ancient Rome and the traditions of gladiators and gods, according to Novack. New events include inflatable-gladiator jousting and a hat, shield and sword-making workshop.
Gladiator jousting took place in Collis Common Ground on Thursday at 3:00 p.m., according to event coordinator Alannah Phelan '12. During the jousting matches, participants climbed into an inflatable arena and dueled with their opponents using oversized, foam-padded jousting poles, Phelan said.
Carnival Council will screen movies related to this year's theme in 105 Dartmouth Hall, including the classic "Winter Carnival" (1939) on Thursday, "300" (2006) on Friday and "Gladiator" (2000) on Saturday.
The trifecta of modern Winter Carnival traditions the Carni Classic, Human Dog Sled Race and Polar Bear Swim will highlight the weekend, Novack said.
The Carni Classic a three kilometer ski "race" on the Golf Course kicked off Winter Carnival on Thursday.
"Everyone dresses up in crazy flair," Novack said. "It's for skiers and non-skiers alike. There's no experience necessary. It's kind of a fun and crazy event."
In the Human Dog Sled Race which annually features flair and prizes student teams competed in a sled race on the Green in which three team members pulled a fourth, according to Novack.
The Dog Sled Race, like the majority of Carnival activities, is free to students, Novack said. Local businesses donated prizes for the race's winners, she said.
Friday's traditional icy plunge, the Polar Bear Swim, will begin at noon on Occom Pond.
"Lots of people come out to participate," Novack said. "There's a constant line from Occom extending all the way down the road. People are very enthusiastic about jumping into freezing cold water. It's tradition."
Although most Winter Carnival activities are free, students must dole out 99 cents for the 99 Cent Ski Day held at the Dartmouth Skiway on Friday, Novack said. The College will provide transportation to and from the Skiway.
The ice luge and ice climbing events that were cancelled during Carnival 2009 were not planned for this year, Novack said.
The weekend's other events include a fireside chat with classics professor Roberta Stewart at 6:00 p.m. on Friday in Collis Common Ground, the Stroll Show put on by La Unidad Latina Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday in Alumni Hall and a free climbing day offered by the Dartmouth Mountaineering Club at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday at the Climbing Gym.
