Burgers, funnel cake, and Italian Ice makes a festival nice. The food choices were just part of the draw for the SGA’s Fall Festival. On October 30th, the Ybor Campus courtyard transformed into an occasion for the senses. The smell of the grill and fryers preparing food for eager ticket holders. Students with painted faces and costumes enjoying the festivities. As always Hawkradio was present, supplying beats that inspired a couple of early dances. This was an event that made for a great way to pass the time between classes or just hang out on campus. Of course with the candy and costumes we all know what this is, but for the sake of the campus rules, it is a “Fall Festival”.

  The SGA pulled out the stops for this festival. Free gift bags full of candy were given out in the ticket line, along with a thick ticket book. Students were entitled to free face painting and balloon art at one booth, and traditional carnival games at another. The overall atmosphere was like a tiny carnival, but the lack of a livestock competition vastly improved the smell.

  Participants could play ring toss, toilet toss, or target practice for small prizes and candy. Everyone was a winner, no carnival tricks here. At the balloon booth, students received flowers and hearts, but mostly huge multicolored balloon hats. The face painting booth made up for the campus policy on no masks.

  Students know they’ll be fed at a campus event, so a barbeque grill was rolled in and a stream of hamburgers and hotdogs issued forth for a hungry line. Another line waited for hot funnel cakes covered in powdered sugar. Right next to that was the Italian ice for the people who felt that Florida “fall” days were still warm enough for something cold, they were right. And even though I was too busy taking pictures to get any, the fried apples looked delicious.

  Wrapping up the festival were the costume contest and dance competition, judged by the SGA president himself, Damon Arnold. The costume contest was won by Mary Presley, dressed as Cleopatra, despite a strong showing by Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum and two Minions.

  The Dance contest started with five students, the only rule was “no twerking”. After a round of voting it became a dance off between a pirate and half-face Iron Man, who may or may not have twerked a little bit. J’aiChaim Welch, the pirate, graciously took the win with cheers from the audience.

  Although the weather was warm and the tress were still green, the Ybor Fall Festival was a great event that all students should look forward to next year.