Fall Fest: Pumpkins, midnight breakfast, and plenty of undead

Annual seasonal celebration runs Oct. 4-7 on Homewood campus

It's that time of year again—leaves are turning color, brisk winds usher in the advent of sweater weather, and upperclassmen with zombie makeup chase the freshmen around campus. Yes, it's a magical time.

That last happening is one of the main events of the annual Fall Fest at Johns Hopkins, a weekend of seasonal celebrations that kicks off today on the Homewood campus. Students participate in a number of different activities ranging from the academic to the downright whimsical. Students also organized the events.

"This is the first year that the event has been planned and executed by students," said Janet Kirsch, campus programming coordinator in the Office of Student Life. "I think because the students have been heavily involved, it will be better than ever."

Festivities include:

Thursday, Oct. 4

  • Welcome to My City: The Baltimore Scholars host an event in the Mattin Center beginning at 1 p.m. to raise awareness about student programs and organizations that work to better Baltimore and the Johns Hopkins undergraduate experience; includes free food, Fall Fest shirts, and a raffle.

  • Zombie Trivia Night: Nolan's hosts a night for Johns Hopkins students to test their zombie knowledge in a fierce competition for the greatest of all prizes—chocolate.

  • Movie on the Quad: The quintessential horror-comedy Zombieland will be screened on the Upper Quad.

Friday, Oct. 5

  • Humans vs. Zombies—Race to Survive: Freshmen and sophomores try to complete challenges around campus while avoiding attacks from upperclassmen zombies!

  • The Zombie Autopsies: A lecture with Dr. Steven Schlozman, who will describe a medically plausible scenario for a zombie apocalypse.

  • Levering Live!: A night of festivities including caricature artists, make your own shorts, and fortune tellers, of course with light refreshments.

Saturday, Oct. 6

  • Pumpkin Patch: Decorate your very own pumpkin.

  • Haunted House: The freshman quad becomes home to a huge house full of "thrills and chills" for those looking for a spook.

  • Alien Laser Tag: Exactly what it sounds like—which is to say, completely fantastical warfare on the freshman quad.

  • A Cappella Festival: JHU a cappella groups along with groups from all around Baltimore will perform in concert together for the first time.

  • Halloween Photo Show: Free photos of you and your friends in a booth on the freshman quad.

  • Midnight Breakfast: A Fall Fest classic, the night concludes with a hot breakfast.

Sunday, Oct. 7

  • The Amazing Race: To close Fall Fest, teams of two will race around campus to complete tasks like they do on the TV show. A Fall Fest tradition, this year it is billed as, "BIGGER TASKS. BIGGER PRIZES. BE READY."

A complete list of Fall Fest events and times is available online.


Kevin Cryan is a sophomore history major from Southport, Conn. Read more of his work at Hopkins Interactive