Media Advisory: Carnegie Mellon Celebrates Spring Carnival
Event: Carnegie Mellon University's annual Spring Carnival and Reunion Weekend is set for April 19-21. This year's carnival will feature over 125 events, including amusement rides, buggy races and theater performances. Many events are free and open to the public, and a full schedule is available online. Follow the weekend on social media with #CMUcarnival.
Highlights
Spring Carnival Booths
3 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, April 19
11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, April 20, and Saturday, April 21
Rides are open until 11 p.m.
Located on the College of Fine Arts parking lot and lawn
The opening ceremony at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 19, on the Midway will include remarks by CMU President Farnam Jahanian, City of Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto, Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Gina Casalegno, and performances by the CMU Pipe and Kiltie bands. More than 20 student organizations are building booths based on the theme "Myths and Legends," including "The Chronicles of Narnia," "Harry Potter," "Titanic" and "Santa's Workshop." Check out the Spring Carnival website for more information on the booths and the weekend's schedule.
Sweepstakes Buggy Races
8 a.m. to noon on Friday, April 20, and Saturday, April 21
Held on Tech and Frew streets, and Schenley Drive
Buggies are aerodynamic pushcarts designed and built by student organizations. Each team includes five students who push the buggy in a relay-style race while a driver steers around the 4,400-foot course. Just an inch off the ground, buggies also roll freely reaching speeds of nearly 40 miles per hour. Student organizations cmuTV and WRCT 88.3-FM will broadcast the event on their websites.
Mobot Races
Noon to 2 p.m., Friday, April 20
Race course outside Wean Hall
The School of Computer Science invites students, staff and even alumni to show off their creative and technological skills in the Mobot races. Teams will race small, autonomous vehicles ("MObile roBOTs") along a slalom-style course.
Scotch 'n' Soda Theatre presents "Chicago"
7 p.m. on Thursday, April 19
7 p.m. and 11 p.m., Friday, April 20
2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Saturday, April 21
Performances in Rangos Ballroom, Jared L. Cohon University Center, second floor
Scotch 'n' Soda, a student-run theatre organization, will host multiple performances throughout Spring Carnival. Tickets may be purchased online or at the door: $5 with a CMU ID and $10 general admission.
Traffic Alert
The City of Pittsburgh has granted permits to close several Oakland-area roads during CMU's Spring Carnival and Sweepstakes buggy races.
Margaret Morrison Street, Tech Street, Frew Street, Circuit Road and Schenley Drive (Panther Hollow and Schenley bridges included) will be closed from 5 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, April 20, and Saturday, April 21. Both City of Pittsburgh Police and Carnegie Mellon Police will be present during the races to help monitor traffic. Roads will re-open by 1:30 p.m. If inclement weather causes the cancellation of the Friday and Saturday competitions, races will be held Sunday, April 22, during the same time frame.
Phipps Conservatory will remain open during normal hours. Due to road closures, visitors will need to park on the streets by Carnegie Library and the surrounding area. City of Pittsburgh Police stationed at barricades will give bus drivers instructions for passenger unloading.
Free parking will be available in the East Campus Garage on a first-come, first-served basis on Saturday, April 21. More parking information is available on CMU's Alumni Association website.
