Happy Almost Earth Day!!!
Thurtene Carnival continues green theme
By Neil Schoenherr
More than 120,000 people from the St. Louis area are expected to attend the annual Thurtene Carnival from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. April 21-22 on the North Brookings parking lot.
This year's theme is "Wish. Dream. Live. Play." Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation is sponsoring the carnival.
Already the oldest and largest student-run carnival in the nation, this year, Thurtene aims to reach further into the St. Louis community while expanding on last year's pledge to remain environmentally friendly.
A new addition to the carnival is the "Kids to the Carnival" initiative, sponsored by Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. The Thurtene Junior Honorary is subsidizing ride tickets and will provide buses to local schools and charities to give more St. Louis children the opportunity to experience the carnival. When are the city schools going to start using hydrogen buses like they have in National Parks?
This year's carnival will feature a continuation of last year's Green Thurtene project.
"We are trying to make the carnival even more environmentally friendly," said Sydney Schneider, public relations co-chair of Thurtene. "We will also offer education to members of the community regarding environmental issues and sustainability."
Toward that end, B-5 generators, which run on 5 percent biodiesel, will help power the carnival. Student members of Engineers Without Borders will be at the carnival building a prototype of a sustainable house they plan to construct in Guatemala. Additionally, there will be a recycling center for wood, paintbrushes and food-service waste, as well as an education center run by various green groups on campus. I wonder if they will recycle 6's - I've been looking for someone to take mine and my poor friend Press is carrying a bunch of them in her trunk!
Another exciting addition is the performance of a children's play by The Black Repertory Theater Co. at 12:30 and 4 p.m. both days of the carnival. All shows are free and open to the public.
Net proceeds from the carnival will benefit the George Washington Carver House, a community center that offers innovative youth-development programs, including a radio station and entrepreneur program.
"With many of these new additions to the carnival, we hope to highlight Thurtene's commitment to community," Schneider said. "Since its beginning, the Thurtene Carnival has been the ultimate community event, bringing together the students and faculty of Washington University with people from all over the St. Louis community."
More than 50 student organizations will take over the North Brookings parking lot for the event, presented by members of Thurtene Junior Honorary, 13 juniors who bear responsibility for the continuation of the tradition.
The carnival features myriad rides and food, six facades showing a variety of student-produced plays and a rock-climbing wall.
The first carnival was held May 9, 1907. It evolved from a circus to a vaudeville show in its early years. Rides appeared in 1914, when a freshman-powered merry-go-round was featured. Sounds like a eco-friendly ride to me! We should think about powering more things with Freshmen! (It would probably solve America's obesity problem, too. But I can only solve one problem per blog!)
In 1935, after a few years off and some festivals in other forms, a revival of the carnival by the Thurtene Junior Honorary saw the inception of what now is recognized as Thurtene Carnival.
Admission is free, though tickets must be purchased for rides and some plays.
The week preceding the carnival, dubbed "Lot Week," receives recognition from the State of Missouri through an official declaration from the governor as "Thurtene Carnival Week." During this week, students work around the clock raising facades and practicing plays.
As always at the conclusion of the carnival, the Thurtene Junior Honorary will present awards for best production, the Buckley Award for best construction of a facade, best food and best game booth.
Also to be awarded are the prestigious Chancellor's Charity Cup for the highest donation to charity and the coveted Burmeister Cup for best overall participation in the carnival.
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