My Favorite Carleton Quirks

Carleton has a long standing history of some really interesting traditions. Before I was a Carleton student, I had heard about some unusual events, but I couldn’t find any up-to-date information. So, for anyone else who is curious about Carleton’s quirky community, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite Carleton traditions that I’ve experienced in the last year.

Date Knight

This is probably my favorite Carleton tradition because it’s a really random premise. Your friends set you up on a blind date, and the only way to find your date in the Great Hall is through your matching name tags. But Date Knight isn’t just about meeting a new person. The evening consists of a bunch of different activities, ranging from partner dance lessons to a cappella shows, so spending the evening with someone you just met will not be as awkward as you might think. Even though this sounds romantic, most people (myself included) use this event as a chance to meet new people on campus. Plus, it’s really fun to say that your friends are setting you up on a blind date. 

 Midnight Breakfast/Scream

Studying for finals can get the best of everyone. Luckily, every night before the first day of finals, the dining halls are open with free breakfast for everyone. People show up in pajamas and eat food at 10 PM with their friends. It’s a nice way to relieve stress before the chaos of finals starts. At around 11 PM, all of the students collectively let out a scream. Although it is definitely startling at first, the midnight scream is a fun way to release some pent up energy after all that studying. After all, when was the last time someone said you could scream at the top of your lungs in a room full of people? 

Friday Flowers

Sometimes after a long week, you just want some encouragement. Luckily, every Friday, a local florist sells flowers in Sayles. I sometimes buy them for a friend who needs a pick-me-up, or a classmate who helped me out with something. My parents have also found a way to send me bouquets remotely, and it’s always the highlight of my week. Everyone I know looks forward to finding flowers in their mailboxes on Fridays, and even something this small can make someone’s day. 

Sproncert

Every spring, Carleton hosts a concert for all of the students. Everyone gets dressed up and lays out their beach towels to enjoy the music (even though it was over 90 degrees this year). You get to eat good food and talk with your friends all while enjoying really great DJs and bands. Even if you aren’t a concert person, there are games and fireworks at the end of the night. Sproncert brings everyone on campus together, and it’s really one of the best, most-well attended events of the entire year.

Northern Lights

Okay, so this maybe isn’t an official Carleton tradition, but every time the northern lights are visible, every Carleton student can be found searching for them. Even the Minnesota natives can’t resist going out to the arb to take photos of the aurora borealis. If you’re a Carleton student, you have to have spent at least one night wandering campus searching for the supposed northern lights. 

These are just a few of my favorite, lesser-known Carleton events. There are traditions everywhere at Carleton, you just have to open yourself up to the possibility of new experiences. Every Carleton tradition or event that I’ve attended has ended up creating lasting memories for me and my friends that I wouldn’t trade for the world.

Kate (she/her) is a sophomore from the Bay Area, California. She loves Carleton’s artsy community, and is involved in both the Theater and Dance department and Vocal Studies Program. Kate’s favorite places on campus are the practice rooms, either in Myers or the Weitz, where she is often making music with her friends. When not in class, you can find Kate either walking in the arb or forcing her friends to watch bad movies in a study room.