Bacchanal at Columbia University

Students at Columbia University all look forward to one thing throughout the year-the weeklong spring Bacchanal celebration. Bacchanal is a long-standing tradition at the university and has a different theme each year. Past themes for the Bacchanal spring festivals include Bacchanaliens, Woodstocchanal, Abacchalypse and Chewbacchanal.

A special club is formed to plan the Bacchanal events and all activities are free to current students at the university. Past concert performers include Kanye West, Vampire Weekend, Ghostface Killah, Mickey Avalon, Snoop Dog and Bob Saget. The annual concert takes place on the steps of the Low and is scheduled at the end of the spring semester.

Although the spring concert on the steps is the main event, the week is filled with plenty of other activities for interested students. Examples of other events include a free acoustic concert lunch, a vendor event where students can sample food and treats from local neighborhood merchants, capture the flag games, free giveaways, Hawaiian themed luau with food and dancing and a spring barbecue. Official t-shirts are usually given out to students as a way to commemorate the event.

Themes of the event and performance bookings are handled by the Bacchanal division of the Activities Board at Columbia. The school allots a certain amount of money each year to help bring in some of the best names in the music business. Theme and event calendars are announced months in advance.

Each year, the events and shows only get better at Bacchanal. Be sure not to miss this fabulous and free event.

Article by Heather