Ice is nice: skating the rink set up on Chapel Lawn for Winter Fest / Photo by Kevin Wing
Ice Skating In Front of the Chapel? It’s Saint Mary’s Inaugural ‘Winter Fest’!
Funded by generous donations from the College’s Board of Trustees, it’s the beginning of a new tradition to ring in the holiday season.
Ice skating is a rare and unique experience in the Bay Area given the region’s temperate climate, but that’s exactly what occurred recently on campus at Saint Mary’s inaugural Winter Fest celebration. The event, which showcased a variety of activities in addition to the ice rink in front of the Chapel, took place Friday, Dec. 1, on and around Chapel Lawn.
Conceived by the Residential Experience team of Samantha Alberto ’12 and Fiona Corner, and funded by generous donations from the entire Board of Trustees, Winter Fest offered an array of activities, food and beverages, and several holiday-themed features designed to appeal to everyone.
A coffee cart helped provide an antidote to the crisp winter air, while sweets such as decorated cookies, candy scoops, and popcorn were all available. In addition to the opportunity to create artsy Christmas cookies, crafts tables were provided for those wanting to create their own holiday stockings, tree ornaments, snow globes, and other Christmas-themed decorations.
“The festive atmosphere at the College’s first Winter Fest created a beautiful experience for the 400 or more students who attended and enjoyed the many available activities,” said Jim Sciuto, Vice President for Student Life. “I am so thankful for this welcoming holiday event and for the work that was spearheaded by our Residential Experience team.”
The Trustees' support for supporting events like Winter Fest, said Sciuto, “speaks to their deep commitment to enhancing the student experience, and the smiling student faces confirmed the wonderful time had by all.”
The First of Many
The College’s Catholic Institute for Lasallian Social Action (CILSA) helped remind everyone of the “reason for the season” by sponsoring a Giving Booth for those who wished to give to the less fortunate. In addition, vocalists from the Bay Area’s Areté Singers Network were on hand to perform holiday songs, and an always-popular petting zoo gave animal lovers the chance to interact with goats, rabbits, pigs, chicken, and even a llama.
The highlight of the evening was the ice skating rink, with students slipping into their ice skates (provided by event organizers) and gamely making their way around the venue under the stars and the glowing Chapel.
Sciuto said that Winter Fest is meant to provide students with a fun, exciting, and relaxing holiday-themed event as they prepare for the end-of-semester academic finals.
“We fully anticipate that the unique opportunity to ice skate next to the Chapel, and indeed the whole Winter Fest experience, will become an annual tradition,” he said.
LEARN MORE about Saint Mary’s College’s Student Life division, Student Involvement & Leadership group, and Associated Students.
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Below, see a gallery of photos from Winter Fest!
