Winter Carnival, like the College's other major weekends, draws large crowds of alumni back to campus to reunite with former classmates and partake in a traditional Dartmouth experience.
While the Alumni Relations office does not keep track of the number of alumni returning to the College over the weekend, it expects the weekend to be popular among alumni, according to senior managing director Diana Lawrence. No specific Winter Carnival events are planned for alumni, but the office will host an event for its club and affiliated group officers.
Several hundred volunteers and guests from various clubs and groups have been invited to campus for training, networking and administrative updates.
Professors will occasionally open classes to alumni or give special lectures for them over Winter Carnival weekend, Lawrence said. Alumni will also be able to receive tours of the new Black Family Visual Arts Center on Friday afternoon, participate in Dartmouth Trivial Pursuit hosted by the Hill Winds Society on Saturday evening and enjoy a stroll around Occom Pond, followed by nightcaps, on Saturday night.
"We meet with other affiliated groups and talk together about our interests and how to promote those interests," Leah Bojnowski '01, secretary to the Black Alumni of Dartmouth Association, said. "Our big focus as a club has always been to have younger alumni involved. We want to help seniors transition into young alumni."
Bojnowski said she hopes to see the ice sculpture on the Green, the VAC and former classmates.
Patrick Connolly '85 said he is looking forward to participating in traditional Winter Carnival activities.
"The coolest things to do as an alumni are see the snow sculpture on the Green, join in on Winter Carnival activities and do a little skiing," he said.
Connolly said he has not made plans to meet any of his classmates, but thinks he will see someone he knows walking on the Green or in Hanover.
Two years ago, the Hanover Inn's 93 rooms were fully booked for Winter Carnival weekend with approximately 90 percent of those staying in the hotel associated with Winter Carnival, according to manager Tom List. Past occupancy rates suggest that many alumni are likely to return this year.
Since the Hanover Inn was closed for renovations last year, Six South Street Hotel hosted many alumni, according to general manager Don Bruce.
Six South Street expects a similar crowd this year, staff member Anthony Bartolini said.
"Although we are not entirely booked yet, we do have a fair amount of alumni staying with us this year for Winter Carnival," Bartolini said. Students said they are looking forward to interacting with alumni and hearing stories of Winter Carnival's past.
"To be honest, I don't really know what to expect in terms of activities besides the ski race, but I'm definitely looking forward to seeing and talking to alums on campus," Bobby Muttilainen '16 said.
Accounts of past Winter Carnivals have piqued the interest of students, who want to learn more about the weekend's roots.
"I'm curious to hear from alumni about how they enjoyed their Winter Carnivals as students here," Christine Mayberry '16 said. "I'm really excited to be part of a tradition that so many other generations of students have enjoyed."
