This year’s Thurtene Carnival is reaching out to more student groups and the community during pre-events as well as the joy-filled festival itself.
Although the fair doesn’t officially kick off until Friday, April 15, organizers are holding several community and fundraising activities during Spirit Week March 27- April 2 to help raise money for this year’s charity, the Belle Center, which helps disabled children with mainstream integration.
“We want this to be a community event that brings together the Washington University and the local communities,” says David Sternheim, a junior in Arts & Sciences and public relations co-chair for Thurtene.
Two of the events are specifically aimed at university students: Meet the Charity Day and a happy hour. Area residents are invited to help support the Belle Center with several designated times to dine out at area restaurants and to face off in a three-on-three basketball tournament.
“Feedback we received from past carnivals was that people thought of it as a Greek event,” Sternheim says. “So we wanted to get more student involvement than in the past.”
To that end, here is a rundown of the pre-carnival happenings:
- Sunday, March 27, Hoops Day. A three-on-three basketball tournament for students, faculty, staff and the community. Registration is required. Before the tournament, the WUSTL men’s and women’s basketball teams will hold a clinic for underserved St. Louis youth. The clinic begins at 11 a.m. and the tournament immediately follows and runs until 4 p.m. at the Athletic Complex.
- Monday, March 28, Meet Thurtene. Organizers will be at the South 40 House from 6-8 p.m. to discuss how to get involved in the carnival.
- Tuesday, March 29, Noodles & Company Benefit Night. Patrons who have dinner from 4-10 p.m. at Noodles & Company (6310 Delmar Blvd.) and mention Thurtene will have 25 percent of the cost of their meal donated to the carnival.
- Wednesday, March 30, First Watch Breakfast for Dinner. First Watch in Clayton (8001 Forsyth Blvd.) will be serving breakfast for dinner from 5-7 p.m. The Belle Center receives 30 percent of proceeds.
- Thursday, March 31, Happy Hour. Thurtene Honorary and the Campus Programming Council provide food and beverages for those over 21 at 5 p.m. in Bowles Plaza.
- Friday, April 1, Meet the Charity Day. Learn more about The Belle Center. Guest speaker, activities and refreshments begin at 2 p.m. in the Lopata Multipurpose Room.
- Saturday, April 2, Block Party. Thurtene Honorary, Neighborhood Voice and Ginger Bistro host a Block Party beginning at 2 p.m. in the Ames Place neighborhood just north of the Danforth campus. Food, games and fun. All students and residents ae welcome on Kingsbury Blvd. between Kingsland and Melville avenues.
Thurtene Carnival again will take place on Brookings Drive and begins at 3 p.m. Friday, April 15, with rides and student booths running until 8 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, April 16 and 17, the carnival’s hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with rides, student booths and facade groups and plays.
To register for the three-on-three tournament and find additional information, visit thurtene.org.