It was a sunny day with a slight breeze, an enjoyable atmosphere with the fall season arriving just days prior to Drew’s Fall Fest.
On Sept. 25, Drew University Student Engagement and Alumni Affairs held the Fall Festival inside and outside the Ehinger Center as part of 2021-2022 Family Weekend. This event was attended not only by visiting relatives of Drew students, but also prospective students and their families who registered for the Discover Drew Day event held by Admissions. Alumni also joined, including members of the Drew Alumni Association.
The Fall Festival tables were decorated with orange and yellow mums and scarecrows. Attendees enjoyed music from a live band as well as a beer garden and food trucks/stands that served tacos, grilled cheese, fries, hot dogs and donuts. Other activities included pumpkin painting, Drew pendant decorating, bouncy houses and bungee jumping. The bookstore sold Drew merchandise in a pop-up shop, and there were lawn games like checkers, giant jenga and Scrabble.
“We wanted to [create an event] that was Covid-friendly, but still enjoyable for families,” Drew Night Life Coordinator Jess Luis (’22) said.
Luis also pointed out the variety of activities that were ideal for different age groups–the biergarten allowed of-age adults to enjoy a beverage, while the bouncy house was perfect for energetic younger siblings. She credited Coordinator of Student Engagement Will McMillan as an integral part of the planning of this event.
Ani Rosenthal’s (‘25) family visited the Fall Festival as a part of their Family Weekend activities. The family enjoyed tacos from the Mexican Spice food truck, painted pumpkins and Ani’s sibling Peninah even bungee-jumped.
Rosenthal’s father, Mark Rosenthal, said he thinks it’s “great watching the freshmen build the relationship that we as the adults remember building when we were in college.”
Ani Rosenthal’s mom Alexandra Rosenthal (’94) said that she felt comfortable being on campus, while her husband Mark Rosenthal remarked on the event’s energetic feel.
The 2021-2022 Family Weekend events also included a movie night on Friday evening as well as the Launch Expo events.
