Zoe Cushing ‘25

During the warm autumn afternoon of Oct. 5, the Sarah Lawrence Activites Council (SLAC) hosted its annual Sarah Lawrence Fall Fest on the North Lawn. The event began at 1 p.m. and finished at 4 p.m.. Students were encouraged to partake in caramelizing apples, painting pumpkins, arranging bouquets, racing through an inflatable obstacle course and sitting to have their faces painted. The event organizers served warm as well as chilled apple cider, laid sugar-dusted donuts on trays beside salted pretzels and blared bands such as The Cure across the grass.

Several festival-goers expressed interest in attending the event as a way to enjoy nice weather and relax before college work ramped up. “[Fall Fest is] the last summery, nice weather opportunity to sit out with everyone,” says class of 2028’s Emma Androne. “Before midterms lock you down in work,” she adds. Kyla Buss ‘25 expresses a similar sentiment. “It’s usually one of the last weekends it’s nice outside. As somebody who loves the sun, I love being out here.”

The Sarah Lawrence Fall Fest is a part of SLAC’s event series for college traditions. “This is one of the first events I ever went to as a freshman” the SLAC traditions co-chair Paige Nelson ‘25 recalls. “It’s just a really good community-building activity. And there’s always so much fun stuff to do, lots of ways to make friends and it’s just honestly beautiful.”

While some students came to soak up the sun, others admitted that food was their main draw. “They have the best free food,” Coco McCleod ‘27 remarks. “We hit up the food first.” By the end of the event, the donuts as well as the chilled apple cider had completely disappeared.

SLAC is currently in the process of organzing more annual college tradition events. Co-chair Paige Nelson tells readers what they can expect in the near future, so mark your calendars! “[SLAC] traditions is planning a casino night. We are in charge of the Spring Fling next semester, we are in charge of the Late Night at Barbs, I believe, so watch out for those ‘cause they’re gonna be really fun!”

Sarah Lawrence College Fall Fest 2024