February 11, 2002

Contact:

Sarah Ray

802-443-5794

sray@middlebury.edu

Posted: February 6, 2002

MIDDLEBURY,

VT - With “Once Upon a Carnival” as its theme, the 79th

annual Middlebury College Winter Carnival, the oldest and

largest student-run carnival in the country, will take place

on Thursday, Feb. 21-Saturday, Feb. 23. The public is

invited to attend fireworks, a cultural gala, an ice show

and ski competitions.

At 7:15 p.m.

on Thursday, Feb. 21, a fireworks display will burst into

the skies over the College’s Center for the Arts (CFA).

Observers may enjoy hot chocolate and view the fireworks

from the CFA’s parking lot or terrace, which is accessible

via Porter Field Road, off South Main Street (Route

30).

Just after

the fireworks, from 7:30-9:45 p.m., a cultural gala with an

African theme, “Jungle Book,” will take place in the CFA.

Lisa Sammet, a self-described tale singer, will provide an

interactive performance of music, song, storytelling and

creative dramatics from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Jeh Kulu, an African

dance troupe, will offer a dance performance and an

instructional dance workshop from 8:45-9:45 p.m. Ongoing

arts and crafts activities for children and light

refreshments inspired by African foods will also be

available.

The Winter

Carnival Ice Show will take place on Friday, Feb. 22, at 7

p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. in Kenyon Arena on

South Main Street (Route 30). Inspired by the tale of a

little girl, the first half of the show is based on the

stories her father reads her at night, and the second half

on her dreams after she falls asleep. Titled “Bedtime

Stories,” the show will feature special guest skaters; the

Middlebury Figure Skating Club, whose members include

children and adults; and Middlebury College student, staff

and faculty skaters.

Two

of the guest skaters are 18-year-old Chad Brennan and

16-year-old Renee Laverdiere. Although they have been

skating together for only a year, they are already 2002 New

England Regional Novice Pair Champions, and have competed at

the 2002 Eastern Sectional Championships. While Laverdiere

is a junior at Marshwood High School in Eliot, Maine, and

represents the Skating Club of Boston, Brennan is a senior

at Franklin High School in Franklin, Mass., and represents

the Colonial Figure Skating Club.

Solo guest

skater Chynna Pope, the second alternate to the 2002 Los

Angeles National Skating Championships, is a freshman at the

Brimmer and May School in Chestnut Hill, Mass. She began

skating at the age of two and is presently in her second

year of directing youth activities at the Skating Club of

Boston. Pope was enrolled for six years in the intensive

ballet program at the Boston Ballet and for one year at the

Massachusetts Youth Ballet. She has danced numerous parts in

“The Nutcracker,” from Snow to the Waltz of the

Flowers.

Some

of the finest collegiate skiers will compete at the

carnival, where the Nordic races are regional qualifying

events for the NCAA. Competitions will take place on Friday,

Feb. 22, and Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Middlebury College

Snow Bowl in Hancock and the Rikert Touring Center in

Ripton. The visiting teams include those from Bates,

Bowdoin, Colby, Dartmouth, Harvard, St. Lawrence, St.

Michael’s, University of New Hampshire, University of

Vermont and Williams. Athletes who qualify for this

competition and who attend Boston College, Plymouth,

Northern Michigan University, Smith, St. Anselm, Clarkson,

M.I.T. and the University of Massachusetts will also

participate. There will be an outdoor barbecue at the Snow

Bowl on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

Admission to

the fireworks, cultural gala and ski events are free.

Tickets for the ice show are $5 for adults, and $3 for

children under 12. Tickets will be available at the

Middlebury College Center for the Arts box office beginning

Feb. 18 at 802-443-6433, and at the door. The outdoor

barbecue at the Snow Bowl is $5.50 per person. For more

information, contact student organizer Lisa Bennett at

lisa@middlebury.edu

or the Middlebury College public affairs office at

802-443-5198.

To follow is

a listing of events:

Middlebury College

Winter Carnival Events Calendar Listings:

Cultural

and Entertainment Events:

Thursday,

Feb. 21

7:15 p.m.

Middlebury College Center for the Arts parking lot and

terrace, Route 30

Fireworks

Free admission

7:30-9:45

p.m.

Middlebury College Center for the Arts, Route 30

“Jungle Book” African Cultural Gala: Performer Lisa

Sammet will give an interactive presentation of music, song,

storytelling and creative dramatics from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Jeh

Kulu, an African dance troupe, will offer a dance

performance and an instructional dance workshop from

8:45-9:45 p.m. Ongoing arts and crafts activities for

children and light refreshments inspired by African foods

will also be available.

Free admission

Friday,

Feb. 22

7 p.m., Kenyon Arena, Middlebury College, Route 30

“Bedtime Stories” Ice Show

Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children under 12. Tickets

will be available at the Middlebury College Center for the

Arts box office beginning Feb. 18 at 802-443-6433, and at

the door.

Saturday,

Feb. 23

2 p.m., Kenyon Arena, Middlebury College, Route 30

“Bedtime Stories” Ice Show

Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children under 12. Tickets

will be available at the Middlebury College Center for the

Arts box office beginning Feb. 18 at 802-443-6433, and at

the door.

Ski

Events:

Free admission to ski events. Outdoor barbecue on Snow Bowl

deck at 11:30 a.m., Feb. 23, $5.50 per person.

Friday,

Feb. 22

Alpine Events, Middlebury College Snow Bowl, Hancock,

Route 125

9:30 a.m. Men’s Giant Slalom - First Run

Followed by Women’s Giant Slalom - First Run

12:30 p.m. Men’s Giant Slalom - Second Run

Followed by Women’s Giant Slalom - Second Run

Nordic

Events, Rikert Touring Center, Ripton, Route 125

10 a.m. Men’s 10K Classic

11:15 a.m. Women’s 5K Classic

Saturday,

Feb. 23

Alpine Events, Middlebury College Snow Bowl, Hancock,

Route 125

9:30 a.m. Men’s Slalom - First Run

Followed by Women’s Slalom - First Run

11:30 a.m. Outdoor barbecue on Snow Bowl deck, $5.50 per

person

12:30 p.m. Men’s Slalom - Second Run

Followed by Women’s Slalom - Second Run

Nordic

Events, Rikert Touring Center, Ripton, Route 125

10 a.m. Women’s 15K Mass Start Freestyle

11:30 a.m. Men’s 15K Mass Start Freestyle

For more

information, contact student organizer Lisa Bennett at

lisa@middlebury.edu

or the Middlebury College public affairs office at

802-443-5198.