Ball State’s normally drab and car-spotted C-1 commuter lot transformed into an island of revolving lights for Late Nite Carnival on Friday.
Food carts boasted cold drinks and ice cream in the flurry of snow and freezing rain. Some students found themselves pelted with tiny bits of hail on high-velocity rides while the cold numbed hands and feet of carnival-goers. The carnival offered all of the festivities of a fair with rides, food vendors, games, live music and caricature artists, which created a surreal experience in the midst of the flurries.
“Even though I could not feel my face due to the cold, I was having a great time,” sophomore telecommunications major Jackson Stevens said.
Those who had preregistered were granted entry at 6 p.m., an hour before the official start time. When the sun went down, the multi-colored lights of the attractions shone through the night and screams of riders could be heard from John E. Worthen Arena and beyond.
However, attendance was down this year due to inclement weather. Temperatures hovered around freezing and precipitation switched between rain, sleet and snow.
Some ride shutdowns alarmed carnival-goers, but organizers maintained that almost all closures were safety precautions. Rides would stop during times of freezing rain and passengers would be unloaded. After the weather had passed, workers performed test runs to ensure all worked appropriately, and rides resumed once rides were deemed safe and functional.
However, the Ferris Wheel did shut down for the night due to the weather. Despite the harsh conditions, organizers tallied that 5,140 students attended.
“The number is still really good for the weather we did have,” senior public relations major and Late Nite Carnival publicity coordinator Kelsey McPheeters said.
Last year Carnival drew around 6,300 attendees, which also suffered because the event was held on its “rain date.” McPheeters said a normal year would draw around 8,000 students.
