Williams Winter Carnival12:00AM / Thursday, February 15, 2007
Williamstown - After a number of years without snow cover, this weekend's Winter Carnival at Williams College is set to benefit from the Feb. 14 heavy snowfall.
The theme for this year's carnival is The Sound of Moosic. The public is invited to all Winter Carnival events.
Although the action on the slopes is the carnival's highlight, Friday, Feb. 16 will feature a variety of campus events to provide winter fun for everyone. Events will begin at 11 a.m. with free skating at the Lansing Chapman Rink.
An ice sculptor will be at work from 1 to 4 p.m. at The Paresky Center, the college's new student center at 39 Chapin Hall Drive, where there will also be carnival events inside from 1 to 5 p.m..
Winter Carnival Opening Ceremonies will be held Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Baxter Great Hall, the Paresky Center, with the annual fireworks show at Poker Flats at 9:20 p.m. (Rain/snow date is Sat., Feb. 17, at 9:20 p.m.)
On Saturday, the college will host an Open House for the public in the new Paresky Center from 9 to 11 a.m. Light refreshments will be served.
The centerpiece of the new facility is Baxter Great Hall, inspired by the lobbies and lounges of the national parks and resort lodges of the 19th-century with its rustic construction, comfortable furnishings, generous proportions, and open fireplace.
The center also features a market place servery; meeting rooms; a 150-seat auditorium; a reading room; a large lounge with cafe seating, billiards and a television area; the campus's centralized mailroom; an open-access balcony; a covered front porch; and a patio.
The student organization suite on the second floor includes dedicated offices for several administrative functions and student groups.
Since the inception of Winter Carnival in 1915, Williams has invited other colleges to participate in a host of competitions on two challenging peaks - Jiminy Peak and Prospect Mountain. On Friday and Saturday, Jiminy Peak will host the Alpine Ski Races, while Prospect Mountain hosts the Nordic Ski Races. Information about the events can be found at http://wso.williams.edu/orgs/woc/ or on posters around Williamstown.
The first Winter Carnival at Williams was an impromptu event organized by a handful of students. Over time, it evolved into a campus holiday with intercollegiate ski races and a wide range of on-campus programming.
The Williams Outing Club planned this year's activities. For more information, call (413) 597-2317.
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