Winterfest brings holiday cheer to the Walk

The weekend's pre-exam festivities will include ice skating and candy canes. We wish you a merry Christmas? on Locust Walk? Winterfest, a student-run celebration of the holiday season, kicks off its second year today as members of the class boards will distribute candy canes, menorahs and various other holiday accessories along the newly decorated Walk. The sophomore, junior and senior class boards planned the event with the intention of bringing some holiday cheer to the campus before finals week begins. Last night, the undergraduate class boards -- along with representatives from campus religious and service organizations -- decorated Locust Walk in red velvet ribbons, gingerbread people and snowmen. "A lot of people don't feel like it is the holiday season until they go home," junior class President Lisa Marshall said. "With so many religious celebrations at this time of the year, it's nice to bring some of that holiday spirit to Penn." Religiously oriented events are also planned for the Walk during today's festivities. Hillel will be making menorahs for Chanukah and the Christian Association will be making advent calendars. The Kite and Key Society, a community service organization, will have a booth where students can decorate cards for patients at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Class board members will be handing out candy canes throughout Winterfest, along with information about each class' listserv and World Wide Web site. Several planners of the event noted the potential for the event to ease the minds of students who feel burdened by finals. "The timing [of Winterfest] is great because it's a fun diversion right before finals," said Kite and Key Vice President Jessie Beller, a College junior. "People can stop by on their way from class, get some hot chocolate, make a card for the Children's Hospital and decorate a gingerbread man." Fraternities and sororities will also be showing their spirit by decorating the outsides of their houses with lights and decorations. The Office of the Vice Provost for University Life and the Undergraduate Assembly will reimburse each Greek house for all money spent on decorations. Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum praised the event as a way to bring students together on campus. "Winterfest is one of the best examples that I can think of that exemplifies campus-wide, student-led, collaborative governance," she said. "I am in awe of how thoughtful and dedicated the planners have been. "Winterfest [has] an extraordinarily rich diversity of Penn students, staff and community organizations coming together? to celebrate our one Penn community." Winterfest concludes Saturday evening with a night of free ice skating at the Class of 1923 rink at 31st and Walnut streets.