Santa rubbed elbows with a pack of Fred Flinstones. Mia Thermopolis ran by four Marios and Ice Spice. Frozone jousted with a knight as Clifford the Big Red Dog sniffed trampled grass. A monarch butterfly took flight as Jacob Elordi from “Saltburn” ran for a tiny water bottle. All of this (more or less) occurred in the depths of Noyes Circle’s Halloweekend Tent last Saturday, Oct. 26. The costumes inside showcased a range of student interests and, perhaps more importantly, a range of tailoring abilities.
Classic takes on the Halloween costume were on full display. Witches and vampires were seen waiting patiently to be let in at the front entrance. There were angels and devils with halos and plastic pitchforks. Dorothy (and her friends) were spotted, as was Little Red Riding Hood with the Big Bad Wolf and even an impeccably styled Mad Hatter.
Rodents were a popular choice of costume too, running rampant inside the tent from 9 p.m. to midnight. Several Judy Hopps were seen surveilling the crowd. And a group of cousinly mice were waving arms high in the middle of the mosh pit.
Other (non-rodent) animals looked heavenly beneath the tent’s gothic arches. Cows were hard to miss with udders swinging in their wake. Paddington Bear, with his signature red hat, posed elegantly while smiling adorably wide. Elmo and the Cookie Monster stalked around in matching onesies, fueling speculation about their budding romance.
Friends paraded through the night in other group costumes as well. Gru and his minions were never far, mostly near the porta-potties. The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders were stage right. Even Winnie the Pooh was seen with compatriots from the famed Hundred Acre Wood.
Legendary literary figures made their mark too, showing off Vassar’s highbrow taste. Babymouse of the eponymous legendary graphic novel series was spotted in Sanders Classroom at a comedy show. In the dark, one could make out Camilla from the popular picture book “A Bad Case of Stripes.” It remains to be seen if any lima beans made it out of the tent uneaten.
First-year student Susan Crumbley brought up a tough issue for many students on tent night: when to arrive. She felt she had timed her exit and entrance incorrectly: “Got there too early to fully enjoy it,” she said. When she arrived 30 minutes after the tent had opened, the night’s groove had not really begun. “The music was too loud for the little people that were there.” And the music remained loud, but, luckily, people did arrive. Sets from student DJs entranced those who were lucky to time their nights in a way that suited them.
With the tent on Saturday, students were unveiling their second costumes of the season. Two costumes is perhaps daunting, but one can always be creative and reuse a dress or outfit they already own.
“You just need a staple, a base for a costume. The rest is all accessories,” Crumbley adds.
Costumed students, tuckered out and hungry, retreated to a deliciously spooky Deece until 2 a.m. post‐tent, making haste through a frightening inflatable arch to grab some mozzarella sticks. Here, the moody red light of the tent morphed into unsparing fluorescence. Sweat, once a glistening enhancer for the eye, became a gruesome aroma for the nose. Students bonded over seeing a particularly accurate Chappell Roan and the persisting thought of what to do next.
Near the desserts, a green M&M ate a scoop of ice cream. A Batman grabbed a croissant. Both are bonded because of their Owala bottles, green and orange. They will both soon realize their mucus has momentarily been stained black, something that happens after attending a music festival or sleeping near a campfire. This must be a sign that a Vassar Halloween is always one to remember and a casual reminder that our nasal cavities can do their job just fine. That Saturday also brought us a pumpkin patch on the Library Lawn, complete with caramel apples and apple cider, and pumpkin carving and painting. Campus roads were circled by the classic Haunted hayride.
All in all, a special thanks to all who put work into the event and the weekend, from security to planning and setup to cleanup. A huge effort was made to help us all enjoy the holiday. And a final thank you to the Health Promotion and Education posters. They remind us of essential truths after a brazen night on our old stomping ground.
