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.