With leaves covering the ground and spiced apple slushies in hand, Sacramento State students took a break from midterms Monday to enjoy the Hornet Harvest Festival in the Acorn Amphitheater.
The event was put on by Student Affairs, aimed at giving students a chance to unwind, with a petting zoo, food trucks, local vendors and games.
The festival took up every inch of the quad with activities and attractions, including multiple photo opportunities, two separate areas for animals, an aisle for vendor booths and numerous places for games. The event went from in front of Mendocino Hall all the way to the dirt parking lot.
President Luke Wood said over 6,000 students registered for the event, with attendance appearing to exceed that number.
“It’s midterms for a lot of students, and we wanted to do something to lower the anxiety, raise a little bit of fun,” Wood said. “If our assessment measure is smiles, I think that it was a success.”
Wood credited Senior Vice President of Student Affairs Aniesha Mitchell with bringing the festival to fruition, offering students a break from the demands of the school year.
“It’s nice to have a break between exams and studying, taking time for yourself and doing things that make you happy,” junior studio art major Jeremiah Reese said.
Hiro Yang, a junior studio art major who helped set up the event, said the turnout was strong, with food vouchers gone by the time the pie-eating contest took place.
“I get to hang out with friends, I get to meet people and I got to set this up,” Yang said. “It’s nice knowing that there are so many people enjoying the stuff that you do, very heartwarming.”
ASI faced off against the president’s office in the pie eating contest. Wood took center stage of this event next to ASI President Sergio Antonio Maciel Montoya, where he was handed the loss. (Claire Harrell)
Along with the fun, the festival brought out organizations to connect with students face-to-face. The festival hosted campus clubs and centers, including Associated Students Inc., Cultural Academic Resource Centers and the Multi-Cultural Student Resource Center.
ASI Events Coordinator Brianna Pureco said the event offered organizations a chance to collaborate and share information about their resources.
“Having all of our organizations bond together is good for working with each other,” Pureco said. “It’s really important to know what the organizations are, know what the resources are and see them work together.”
The event also offered vendors the opportunity to showcase their businesses to students and learn more about what potential customers want.
Damaris Casillas, the owner of Beanies by Damaris, was selling her crochet work during the festival. Casillas has previously marked her small business at the Stinger Expo.
“It gives me more experience talking to people,” Casillas said. “[Learning] what people like and what people want to see more of,” Casillas said.
A display of Damaris Casillas’s items for sale at the Hornet Harvest Festival. Casillas sells a variety of different crochet items such as beanies and flower bouquets. (Claire Harrell)
Wala Khalid, Southwest Asian & North African Student (SWANA) coordinator, said the festival gave students an opportunity to feel appreciated.
“It’s giving them an opportunity to unwind and just enjoy and have a good time,” Khalid said. “We’re celebrating the students.”
With pumpkins all around and sweet treats at every stop, the festival brought in the fall spirit giving the campus a chance to get a head start on Halloween.