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.