BY CONNOR McMANUS
- Spanish Club’s Mariachi Band performs at Holiday Fair
The gym and commons are decked out in festive decoration. Elementary students bolt from booth to booth clutching a third handful of tickets. Parents set down their child’s four cake walk prizes to fish for cash so the kid can do the cake walk yet again– Holiday Fair is in full swing.
The event has become a Mariemont tradition with its own unique culture. Some students grow up seeing iconic booths that become forever associated with the sponsoring activity. Freshman Audrey York recalls a Holiday Fair memory from the days when the band booth awarded live fish as prizes.
“I won like seven goldfish at the band booth, and my dad yelled at me for bringing all these fish home. We didn’t know what to do with them,” says York.
For others, Holiday Fair is a new experience.
“I didn’t even know it existed until this year,” notes freshman Parker Sullivan.
Mr. Crosby is pleased with the direction Holiday Fair has taken since he initiated the festival as principal in 1999.
“It hasn’t changed much since I started it and I think it’s a very good way to bring the clubs and classes together. The booth organization is a good process for students to be taking part in,” says Crosby.
As the emperor of Latin Club, Mr. Ferry has had firsthand experience in helping his student leaders organize the Latin Club booth.
“It can certainly be a challenge to coordinate,” notes Ferry. “It’s always a lot of fun, though.”
Mr. Crosby is also aware of the challenges that face the students who head up each booth and the get-your-chores-done anxiety that sometimes surrounds the festival. A successful appearance at Holiday Fair requires much planning and hassling of friends to volunteer for a shift.
“It always creeps up right after Homecoming which can be tough on everybody, but somehow we always pull it off. I really appreciate the student leadership, the sponsors, the PTO, and the parents who help out,” Crosby says.
The Fair was well attended this year, as was made evident by the packed gym and lines of students.
“ I wanted to play Angry Birds but the line’s too long,” notes 7th grader Ben Phelan, a first time Holiday Fair attendee. Phelan says he enjoyed the Fair: “The games are fun and everyone’s here!”
Junior Nathan Kuck had a positive experience on the other side of the booth.
“I’m running the Cross Country booth,” Kuck explains, his voice almost completely gone from shouting over the crowd. “It’s enjoyable, getting to see all these kids having a good time.”
Thus, a Mariemont tradition has come and gone again. The gym is reverted to its original state, the tables are stored, and the clubs and activities have put away their decorations until next year’s Holiday Fair.
