A crowd of red and gray weaved through strolling magicians, jugglers, henna artists and a plethora of other activities on Saturday as Alumni Relations, Student Activities and Hamline University Programming Board held their annual community event, Fall Fest.

Merging Homecoming Week and Alumni Weekend, Fall Fest is an event aimed not only at students, but at the Hamline community as a whole. Molly Glewwe (MFA ‘09), Alumni Relations Director, sees the event as a way to bring everyone together.

“Fall Fest has existed for many years. The goal is to provide a fun event for alumni, faculty/staff, students and families,” she said.

Many of these community members were present at the event on Saturday, and a sense of Hamline pride buzzed throughout the crowd.

Besides the magicians, jugglers and henna artists, there was also a human gyro ball, snacks, a bouncy castle and even a disc golf course set up by Christian Swanberg from Hamline Campus Recreation. Lacey Squier, Coordinator of Student Activities, helped to ensure that through all the activities people would still be able to converse and interact with each other.

“We offer activities, but they are all the kinds of activities that would allow you to still communicate,” she said.

This emphasis on communication and togetherness was amplified by the Spirit Squad, a group of 12 Hamline students who helped to facilitate conversations and keep everybody involved. Catherine Jacobson (‘17), Development and Outreach Coordinator for Hamline University Programming Board, helped bring the Spirit Squad together. She understands that their goal is to get the community excited for Fall Fest, as well as the Homecoming football game.

“Spirit Squad is basically a group of Hamline students who are just super piped up about homecoming,” Jacobson said.

Fall Fest purposely occurs right before the homecoming football game. At 12:15, the attendees were encouraged to walk from Anderson Center to Klas Center together to view the game. This event, called the Piper March, started at Fall Fest last year, and Squier sees it as a way to bring the various crowds gathered in Anderson together.

“Instead of having people just trickle out [to the Homecoming game], let’s have a communal moment,” she said.

The march included a pep band, The Piper and a slew of students, alumni, family members and staff who were amped up for the football game.

In addition to the Piper March, another new event called The Marketplace was held right next to the main activities of Fall Fest. The Marketplace is an event that allows various members of the Hamline Community to display and sell their artwork, writing, sculptures and other various arts and crafts. Glewwe believes all of these events help add an excitement and charm to Fall Fest.

“I love seeing the mix of current students, alumni and kids. There is a great energy – whether people want to do something active or just relax with a treat,” she said.

With all of the activities and events going on, attendees had many options about what to participate, or what not to participate in. Squier understands that not everyone may want to do the same thing.

“It’s very casual in nature, so you just kind of walk around and do what you want, when you want,” she said.

With Homecoming Week and Alumni Weekend happening, it can be difficult to get everyone together in the same place. Fall Fest not only helps to accomplish this, it also helps to channel a collective, communal pride of being a part of Hamline University into one event. Jacobson understands that this is the purpose of Fall Fest.

“The main goal of Fall Fest would be to try to get everybody within the Hamline community to feel like they’re together,” she said.

For a few hours on Saturday, this mission was achieved. The sea of red and gray, mingling in Anderson or marching to Klas, seemed to be proud to be connected with the Hamline community.

Fall Fest occurs once a year during Homecoming Week and Alumni Weekend. For more information regarding the event, contact Alumni Relations or Hamline University Programming Board.