76th Annual Middlebury College Winter Carnival
on Feb. 25-27 Adopts a Theme of the Four Elements

Public Invited to Attend Fireworks, Cultural
Gala, Ice Show, Ski Events, and First Annual Barbecue

A theme of the four elements, from wind and fire
to earth and water, will lend an environmental tone to the 76th
annual Middlebury College Winter Carnival, the oldest and largest
student-run carnival in the country, on Feb. 25-27. The public
is invited to attend fireworks, a cultural gala, an ice show,
the first annual barbecue, and ski competitions.

At 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 25, a fireworks display
will burst into the skies over the College’s Center for the Arts
(CFA). Observers may view the fireworks from the CFA’s parking
lot or terrace, which is accessible via Porter Field Road, off
Route 30.

Just after the fireworks, from 7:30-10 p.m., a cultural
gala with the theme “Elements in our Midst,” will take
place in the CFA. Just inside the main entrance, in Room 232,
children will have the opportunity to paint a winter carnival
T-shirt, make tambourines, and decorate three-dimensional globes
under the direction of student volunteers and Community Friends,
a program run by the Counseling Service of Addison County that
links local children with College students and others who serve
as mentors or companions.

In the CFA’s lower lobby, the Massachusetts-based
band, José González and Banda Criolla, will play
Latino music throughout the event. In the dance theatre, the International
Student Organization will perform cultural dances. The Concert
Hall will be the location for a performance by the Burlington-based
Jeh Kulu Dance and Drum Theater, an African dance and drum ensemble
with members from Burlington and abroad. The Middlebury College
Flute Choir will perform as well. Light refreshments will also
be available.

The 1999 carnival marks the debut of a new event.
The first annual barbecue, called “The Common Element,”
will take place behind Battell Dormitory on College Street (Route
125) from 2-5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26. Along with a barbecue,
the public is invited to a bon fire, sleigh rides, a hot tub for
40 people, games, and children’s activities.

In conjunction with the new event, organizers have
reinstated the Winter Carnival Snow Sculpture Competition. The
contest is open to the public, and winners are eligible to receive
prizes totaling $1,000. On Friday, Feb. 26, five-foot piles of
snow will be available starting at 8 a.m. and sculptures must
be finished by 3:30 p.m.. Because there is a limited number of
snow piles available, pre-registration is required. To register,
contact student organizer Elsa Palanza by calling 443-3103, faxing
443-3012, or e-mailing epalanza@middlebury.edu by Monday, February
22 at 12 p.m. Please include the group’s contact name and telephone
number, and the number of people in the group. All registrations
will be confirmed on the following Thursday.

The Winter Carnival Ice Show will take place on Friday,
Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. in the new state-of-the-art
Chip Kenyon ‘85 Arena on Route 30. This year’s show is titled
“ElementICEing” and will feature the Middlebury Figure
Skating Club, and Middlebury College’s talented student, staff
and faculty skaters.

The show will also include professional skaters from
the Boston area, including 22-year-old Jessica Roos. She is the
1999 New England Regional Senior Ladies Competitor and the 1998
Lake Placid Senior Ladies Silver Medalist. Roos is returning for
her fifth appearance in the ice show. A talented pair, Emilie
Nussear and Brandon Forsyth, will perform as well. Aged 16 and
19 respectively, Nussear and Forsyth are members of the 1999 U.S.
National and U.S. Junior World Teams.

Some of the finest collegiate skiers will compete
in their final carnival of the season on Friday, Feb. 26 and Saturday,
Feb. 27 at Middlebury College’s Snow Bowl (Hancock, Vt.) and Rikert
Touring Center (Ripton, Vt.). Teams from Bates, Bowdoin, Colby,
Dartmouth, Harvard, Johnson State, St. Lawrence, St. Michael’s,
University of New Hampshire, University of Vermont, and Williams
will participate. There will be a barbecue at the Snow Bowl on
Saturday at 12 p.m.

Admission to the fireworks, cultural gala, the barbecue
on campus, and ski events are free.

Tickets for the ice show are $5 for adults, and $3
for students and children. Tickets will be available at the Middlebury
College Center for the Arts box office at 443-6433 beginning Feb.
12, and at the door.

The all-you-can-eat barbecue at the Snow Bowl is
$5.50 per person.

Schedule of Ski Events:

Free admission to ski events. All-you-can-eat barbecue
$5.50 per person.

FRIDAY, FEB. 26

Alpine Events at the Middlebury
College Snow Bowl, Hancock, Vt., on Route 125

9:30 a.m.

Women’s Giant Slalom - First Run, followed by

Men’s Giant Slalom - First Run

12:30 p.m.

Women’s Giant Slalom - Second Run, followed by

Men’s Giant Slalom - Second Run

Nordic Events at the Rikert
Touring Center, Ripton, Vt., on Route 125

10 a.m.

Women’s 5K Freestyle

11 a.m.

Men’s 10K Freestyle

SATURDAY, FEB. 27

Alpine Events at the Middlebury
College Snow Bowl, Hancock, Vt., on Route 125

9:30 a.m.

Men’s Slalom - First Run, followed by

Women’s Slalom - First Run

12:30 p.m.

Men’s Slalom - Second Run, followed by

Women’s Slalom - Second Run

12 p.m.

Outdoor all-you-can-eat barbecue on Snow Bowl deck,
$5.50 per person

Nordic Events at the Rikert
Touring Center, Ripton, Vt., on Route 125

10 a.m.

Men’s 20K Mass Start Classic

11:30 a.m.

Women’s 15K Mass Start Classic

Schedule of Other Events:

THURSDAY, FEB. 25

7:15 p.m.

Fireworks

Middlebury College Center for the Arts parking lot
and terrace, Route 30. Free admission

7:30-10 p.m.

Elements in our Midst Cultural Gala: children’s T-shirt
and tambourine making, José González and Banda Criolla
(Latino band), Jeh Kulu African Theatre (dance and drum ensemble),
International Student Organization cultural dances, student instrumental
performances, and refreshments.

Middlebury College Center for the Arts, Route 30.
Free admission

FRIDAY, FEB. 26

2-5 p.m.

The Common Element Barbecue: scheduled activities
include music, sleigh rides, snow sculptures, bon fire, games,
and children’s activities. To enter snow sculpture competition,
contact student organizer Elsa Palanza by calling 443-3103, faxing
443-3012, or e-mailing epalanza@middlebury.edu by Thursday, Feb.
25 at 12 p.m. Please include group contact name and telephone
number, and number of participants. All registrations will be
confirmed on Thursday, Feb. 25.

Located in the area behind Battell Dormitory, College
Street (Route 125). Free admission

7 p.m.

ElementICEing Ice Show. Tickets are $5 for adults,
$3 for students and children. Tickets are available at the Middlebury
College Center for the Arts at 443-6433 starting Feb. 12, and
at the door. Doors will open one hour before the show.

Chip Kenyon ‘85 Arena, Route 30

SATURDAY, FEB. 27

2 p.m. ElementICEing Ice
Show. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for students and children.
Tickets are available at the Middlebury College Center for the
Arts at 443-6433 starting Feb. 12, and at the door. Doors will
open one hour before the show.

Chip Kenyon ‘85 Arena, Route 30.