The Loveliest Village

Today at 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. the University Program Council is holding its annual Halloween Carnival.  Numerous booths and activities designed for children will be set up at the food court entrance of Foy Student Union.  The entire Auburn and Opelika communities are invited along with students, faculty and organizations that provide services to children. 

“The whole community is invited,� said Jordan Carnell, Vice President of UPC.  “It is a great opportunity for students to bring their Best Buddy or Project Uplift kid to this fun-filled event.�

The goal of the carnival is to let children have a safe and family-oriented place to go on Halloween.  It is free and costumes are encouraged.

“It also allows Auburn students to get to interact with the kids and help play a part of their Halloween fun,â€? Carnell added.  “It’s not just about the candy because kids get to play fun games, too.â€?

The Volunteers Committee of UPC and the vice president organize the yearly carnival, but all the other different committees plan and put on the different activities at the booths.  Several university student organizations are also helping out.   

“I know the Black Student Union, AU Rhythm, the Auburn cheerleaders, the members of Tiger Tuesdays and many other groups are pitching in by having an activities table themselves,� she said.

So far, at least twenty-five booths have been planned including “Haunted Tent,� “Ghost Making,� “Pumpkin Shoot� and “Scary Sundaes.� 

“There are always a variety of booths from UPC and other student organizations,� Carnell said.  “I know that this year there is face painting, a hospital where you can get fake wounds, pie in the face, fish for a prize station, football toss, ring toss and so many others.�

One booth that stands out from last year for Carnell is the “Pie in the Face.�  It sounds as if the kids weren’t the only ones having fun.
     
“It was funny because a lot of the kids couldn’t reach high enough to hit our Films’ Director in the face,� she said.  “So we got to constantly throw pies in his face while the kids just watched and laughed. They loved it because he was getting so mad and we loved it because how often do you have an excuse to throw pie in your friend’s face?�

Carnell, who thinks she may dress up as Pippy Longstockings on the ghostly day, knows which children’s costumes have stood out at the past events. 

“I think it’s precious when kids are dressed up as super heroes and get into it so much that they act it out,� she said.

For more information about UPC’s Halloween Carnival, go to their Web site: http://www.auburn.edu/upc/ or e-mail Carnell at carneje@auburn.edu.

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