Winter Carnival Goes Prehistoric With 鈥楯urassic Parka鈥

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鈥淭he Carnival Before Time鈥 will run from Feb. 6 to 9.

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Winter carnival poster with dinosaur
 The winning poster design, created by Yujie Pan 鈥27, was chosen from among nearly 30 entries.  (Video by Chris Johnson)

With dinosaur trivia, gyrospheres, and a film featuring footage of the perennial cold-weather festivities from 1939, this year鈥檚 from Feb. 6 to 9 has its beady eye on the distant past. 

鈥淛urassic Parka: The Carnival Before Time鈥 is the latest in a long line of winter celebrations dating back to 1911.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really cool to be part of Dartmouth traditions and Dartmouth history,鈥 says Kennedy Wiehle 鈥25, a film major from Fort Worth, Texas, reflecting on her experience as a Winter Carnival Council co-chair. Also, she says, 鈥渋t鈥檚 a great way to meet new people if you鈥檙e trying to expand your circle.鈥

This year鈥檚 festivities will open with themed food, activities, and a photo booth from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at Collis Common Ground, hosted by Winter Carnival Council, followed by 鈥渄ino-mite鈥 trivia sponsored by the Collis Governing Board at 9 p.m. 

Dartmouth undergraduates can for Feb. 6, 7, or 9 at , which is providing between the ski area and campus every day through March 9.

On Friday, Feb. 7, the winter competitions start鈥攖he ski teams鈥 will open with alpine racing at 9 a.m. at the Skiway, and Nordic events at 10 a.m. at . 

Also that day, student teams may start carving their ice sculptures between noon and 9 p.m. on the lawns of Collis, Robinson, and McNutt, and attendees can with the Book Arts Workshop between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in Baker-Berry Library. 

Hardy souls can join the from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at Occom Pond, weather and ice permitting.

And plenty of cold-weather treats will be on hand鈥攃ookies and cocoa, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the ; s鈥檓ores and cocoa with members of the from 4:30 to 7 p.m. in Collis Plaza; and a 鈥渄ino鈥 dinner at 鈥53 Commons. 

A free screening of Jurassic Park is set for 7 p.m. in Loew Theater, sponsored by the Winter Carnival Council and , and men鈥檚 hockey will face off against Harvard, also at 7 p.m., in Thompson Arena. The evening wraps up with a drag show sponsored by House of Lewan, , and the , from 8 to 11 p.m. at Collis Common Ground. The show features Dartmouth- and Boston-based performers, a DJ, dancing, and a community catwalk.

On Saturday, Feb. 8, the competitions continue with races at Dartmouth Skiway and Oak Hill Outdoor Center and ice sculpture carving throughout the day, followed by voting on the sculptures from 4 to 5 p.m., and awards at 5 p.m. on Collis Patio. 

The , which will run through winter term, will offer outdoor activities, fire pits, and snacks from noon to 5 p.m. at the Dartmouth Outing Club House on Occom Pond. A live raptors show by the Vermont Institute of Natural Science takes flight at 2 p.m. at Collis Common Ground, and, weather permitting, Raptor Relays will be run that afternoon on the Green.

presents the cult classic at 7 p.m. at Loew Theater. Shot partially on location at Dartmouth, the 1939 rom-com written by Maurice Rapf 鈥35 and Budd Schulberg 鈥36 offers a look at the early days of Winter Carnival.

Also that evening, the Dartmouth Figure Skating Club will put on an exhibition at 7:30 p.m., followed by open skating from 9 to 11 p.m., at Thompson Arena.

New activities are being added as carnival approaches鈥攃heck the for details and updates. And be on the lookout for signs of ancient life.

鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping to have this whole campus covered in dinosaurs,鈥 says Winter Carnival Council co-chair Noah da Silva 鈥25, an earth sciences major from Bermuda. 

Some will even be tromping around on two feet. The costumes, Wiehle says, 鈥渁re shipping as we speak.鈥

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There鈥檚 still time to pitch in with planning and staffing events. Interested students are encouraged to join the , which meets at 6 p.m. Fridays in Collis 211. For more information, email the council or stop by the Student Involvement Office on the second floor of Collis.

Aimee Minbiole