Students looking for a diversion from the cold and snow will have plenty of options when Syracuse University hosts its annual Winter Carnival this week.

The carnival, which began in 1930, is a weeklong series of activities and events for students. The SU Traditions Commission organizes some of the events and collaborates with campus organizations for others.

“It’s a way to kind of boost morale and get kids out and about,” said Sakina Kader, president of the traditions commission.

This year’s carnival will kick off with the “Winter Carnival Days” event Monday and Tuesday from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. in the Schine Student Center Atrium.

Other events included in the weeklong Winter Carnival are a chili cook-off, a performance by SU’s a cappella groups and a men’s basketball viewing party.

The winners of the cook-off are chosen by a panel of judges and will win cookware packages. One of the judges will be Jane Burrell, who has appeared on the Food Network, said Kader, who is also a senior entrepreneurship major.

Kader said that the chili cook-off and men’s basketball game viewing party are typically the most popular carnival events.

The SU A Cappella Council will present a “Cozy Cappella” performance on Thursday night in Schine’s Goldstein Auditorium.

Sydnee Corriders, the programming and finance director for Main Squeeze, said the group will be performing “Alone” by Heart and “Till the Casket Drops” by ZZ Ward.

Corriders said Cozy Cappella is “a great promotion” for Main Squeeze.

“Everyone gets a taste of what we’ve been working on throughout the semester,” she said.

Lauren Duda, public relations director for The Mandarins said the performance will have a “cozy, casual atmosphere.”

“Every group gets to pick their own cozy thing to wear. That can be anything from slippers to sweatshirts,” she said. “For the audience it’s a good time because there are free refreshments.”

The carnival activities will conclude Saturday with laser tag in Goldstein Auditorium from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Kader said some events from recent carnivals, like the human dog sled race, won’t be held this year because students didn’t respond well to outdoor activities.

Julian Nelums, a freshman international relations major, is looking forward to the carnival this week, especially the glow in the dark skate night.

“It’s a new twist on winter that will make it more fun,” he said.

Published on February 17, 2014 at 1:34 am