Get Ready To Camp At Camp Whittfest

Enjoy some rock and roll and s’mores. // Photo courtesy of Program Board

Come all, come all to Camp Whittfest. // Photo courtesy of Program Board

Camping is an in-tents amount of fun, especially when Camp Whittfest is just around the corner.

Every Spring semester, as students start preparing mentally for their upcoming finals and fourth-years are preparing for graduation, the Program Board brings out the most anticipated events of the year. Whittfest is a festival where several organizations come together and host several games for students, families, staff, and faculty to unwind before the chaotic storm that is the end of April.

The carnival is set to happen on April 11 from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Upper Quad. For this year’s Whittfest, Program Board is bringing the great outdoors to the Whittier College campus with Camp Whittfest. According to second-year and executive coordinator Yen Tran, “We thought of the camp theme during our weekly Whittfest meetings last semester. Among the themes that were proposed, camp[ing] was the general favorite among the Whittfest committee and Program Board team.” She confirms that the decor and set up for the festival will reflect a camping aesthetic, with the iconic photo booth embracing the theme as well.

While last year’s Whittfest was a trip back to the ’70s and had the popular Poet Prom attached, there is still much to be excited about with this year’s carnival. “Whittfest will be even bigger than it was last year,” Tran says, “we have more food vendors and a live band that will be performing for us. Later in the night, there will also be a karaoke and dance battle that clubs and organizations can compete in for a grand prize of $500.”

Every Whittfest, there is live entertainment whether that was two-timing Grammy winning artist, T-Pain back in 2017, or the College’s own KPOET station playing pop-culture classics for all to enjoy last year. This year though, Program Board was able to secure Mike Staggs & The Souls, a rock and roll band that will bring out the high energy that everyone needs. Tran expresses how wonderful it has been with the band, “Our entertainment coordinator, Madyson Escobedo found them while looking for Whittfest’s entertainment. They have been delightful to work with.” The band will be performing from 4 to 6 p.m. before taking a short intermission, and they will do an encore performance from 7 to 8 p.m. to tie everything together.

There is always something to do at Whittfest, you rarely ever see anyone bored. According to Tran, “There will be 10 carnival games–including dunk the duck, basketball toss, and ring toss–as well as five food vendors.” Some of the food that will be served include burgers, vegan burgers, hot dogs, boba, and funnel cakes. Many clubs and organizations will be involved and provide numerous games for attendees to enjoy, these organizations include the Arthurian Order of the Knights of Pendragon (AOKP), the Athenian Society, the Palmer Society, the William Penn Society, the Metaphonian Society, the Thalian society, and the Quaker Campus. Also present will be a “photo booth bus, petting zoo, bouncy obstacle course, s’more and tie-dye stations, a performance by the Whittier College cheer and dance team, and a karaoke/dance battle.”

As the event creeps closer and closer, Program Board is working hard to get everything ready for the big day. Tran and her team have sorted out their specific roles and responsibilities, “Devin [Tovar], a first-year is our entertainment coordinator, Madyson [Escobedo], a first-year, is our entertainment coordinator, and Jessica [Rodriguez], a third-year is our decoration coordinator. Planning for this day began last semester […] so ever since [then] we have been contacting vendors, gathering quotes, and working with Brittney from the Office of Student Engagement [OSE] to make sure everything goes smoothly.” Tran also expresses that she is looking forward to seeing Whittfest in its glory, “seeing all of our hard work realised will be nice.”

Soon, the Upper Quad will transform into a campground of fun for all. Make sure to come by, roast some s’mores, listen to some rock music, and overall take a moment to relax at this year’s Whittfest.

Photos courtesy of Program Board