2019 Homecoming Carneval was filled with rides, games and fun for a large crowd of students and locals. Photo by Isaiah Hanna.
The air was crisp as students and Sylva locals flocked to the WCU fountain to enjoy the Homecoming Carnival. The area surrounding the fountain is usually quiet but on Oct. 22 it was filled with rides, games and a large crowd of students and locals.
The smell of popcorn and cotton candy greeted them as groups branched off to try out all the rides and games provided. The Sizzler and Ferris wheel with spinning seats seemed to draw the crowd the most with wait times of at least 15 minutes.
Some students were getting into the Homecoming spirit by dressing in early Halloween costumes. The Student Government Association(SGA) had a tent set up to provide people with games like Jeopardy. Student body president, David Rhode, even joined in on the action by hopping into a dunk cage for the Miracle Foundation, giving students and locals the chance to throw some balls and plunge him into the water. The Miracle Foundation conducts fundraisers throughout the year to raise money for children in need.
Students came to the carnival for many reasons. Robert Tripp, a student at Western Carolina University, came out to the carnival because his friends wanted to go and he tagged along for the ride.
“I was gonna hang out with my friends somewhere else and then we decided we were gonna go to the carnival,” said Grayson Blalock, also a WCU student.
Andrew Boyer, another WCU student, tagged along as well and said he did not regret it. The homecoming festivities continued throughout the week with a Homecoming concert on Oct. 24, a Homecoming parade on Oct. 25, and the Homecoming game on Oct. 26.
