A spring festival

Scattered rain showers didn't stop the party on Frist South Lawn yesterday at the barbeque and carnival night kickoff to the Fristfest weekend celebration.

The Fristfest picnic and carnival began at 4 p.m. with roving artists and carnival games and progressed through the night to Dance Dance Revolution tournaments. Giveaways, such as nylon backpacks and mini beach balls, were distributed throughout the crowd as the music of bands of a variety of genres including folk, island/world and rhythm and blues filled the air. Guests munched on hamburgers, hot dogs and desserts.

The evening highlighted several showcase events. At 8 p.m., there was an "Idol Hour" featuring Tom Haine '08 and other Princetonian Idol 2 contestants. At 10 p.m. Melissa Ferrick took the stage, cosponsored by the Pride Alliance and the Trustee Alcohol Initiative.

In its fifth year, the picnic dinner and event was a joint collaboration between the Frist Campus Center and University Dining Services and was supported with funding from various campus groups.

Director of Dining Services Stu Orefice predicted a major turnout of freshman and sophomore students whose dining plans would entitle them to free barbeque food.

He said that they "typically serve an additional 300 to 400 upperclass students, and faculty and staff as well."

In addition to University students, staff and community members, younger children from the community seemed especially impressed with the carnival games and other activities.

"This is really fun," said Delrina Fan, as she lined up to try her luck at the basketball toss. "The best part are the prizes from the games."

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Tom Myers, director of Frist Campus Center, noted the event's emphasis on attracting people of all ages and interests.

"Hopefully there is something here for everyone to enjoy," he said. "We are cosponsoring Melissa Ferrick tonight with the Pride Alliance, and I think there are really just a bunch of different kinds of bands ... and other activities."

Many students seemed to enjoy the social atmosphere and the picnic dinner.

"I think this is a good effort by the University to foster ties with the community at large," Thomas Dollar '08 said.

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Not all those in attendance, however, had an equally positive view of the event. "The intentions are good," said Josh Loehrer '08, "but because of the questionable weather, poor music and the limits on food, the beginnings of Fristfest is a doubtful success."

Later this weekend, Fristfest holds in store an outdoor double-feature movie night on Friday with "The Incredibles" and "Napoleon Dynamite" and a Univerisity Wind Ensemble performance and Charlie Murphy and Friends Comedy Tour on Saturday.