by Aelwen Iredale, Hallie Gleeson, Jenna Nicodemus
Carnival – the annual SAC event at Centre! This year’s edition offered a giant swing ride, slides, airbrush hats, free shirts, ice cream, food trucks, cornhole, live music, and generally a fun place to hang out. Though the weather was a bit dismal and on the colder side, there was a great turnout this year.
The performers at Carnival offered varied experiences throughout the day. During the afternoon, the Kentucky Ensemble brought a casual and comfortable vibe. As student performers, they had a personal connection with the audience. While the energy of the picnic and the rides began to wind down, the Ensemble brought people together on the front lawn and warmed their hearts with classic performances from friends. Despite the chill in the air, people stuck around, smiled, and sang along to the various songs. Each performer was working hard but also had a smile on their faces, making their audience smile even more. It was a quintessential college experience and a moment of community during the busy day.
Solstice brought energy to the beginning of the party half of Carnival. The sun set, and the stage lit up with the band ready to bring Centre students to life. Solstice is a boy band with a laid-back aesthetic, and they performed to students as though we were their friends. With a variety of songs and interactions with the crowd, Solstice was a total hit with students and had people dancing behind the library for the entire hour of their performance.
Sammy Adams, though the headliner, brought far less fun. He attempted to engage with the audience, but his actual rapping was lackluster and was mostly the occasional karaoke. Students reported that they didn’t feel like they could dance to the music. Overall, there was far less dancing than when Solstice had been playing. People came and went as they pleased, but it was a disappointing end to the otherwise eventful day.
All-in-all, Carnival was a success. The daytime activities were fun, and Solstice brought good energy to the evening. However, unfortunately, like last year, the headliner was disappointing in comparison to other performances. Hopefully, Centre remembers how much a band can create a good atmosphere at various parts of the day, and brings back groups instead of a single performer. Kentucky Ensemble and Solstice were the performances students wanted: talented and personable onstage and off. Let’s bring that energy to carnival next year.