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We look forward to your participation in our Mountain Day celebration. Please join us for these great Berry traditions! For questions about Mountain Day, please contact studentinvolvement@berry.edu or stop by the Campus Information Desk in the Krannert Lobby.
MOUNTAIN DAY STUDENT TRADITIONS INCLUDE...
FRIDAY
Mountain Day Olympics are held on Evans Lawn and are co-sponsored by KCAB and Residence Life. This is one of our largest student events of the year. Residence halls, commuters, faculty and staff compete in “field day-type” events, such as egg toss and tug-o-war, for the title of Olympic Champions.
KCAB’s Mountain Day Talent Show takes place Friday evening with cash prizes awarded to the winners. Tickets are sold at the Campus Information Desk the week prior to the event.
SATURDAY
The Picnic & Grand March are held on Mountain Campus, and this event dates back over 100 years! The picnic and Grand March are a birthday party for and celebration of Martha Berry and her contributions to the institution.
Several thousand people attend the events on Mountain Campus. Students, faculty and staff can enjoy a FREE picnic lunch with Berry ID and ticket, which can be picked up at the Campus Information Desk during the week prior to the event. Guest meal tickets may also be purchased at the Campus Information Desk for a discounted price or day of at the picnic site at full price. Students are welcome to bring their own food to picnic with family and friends.
Students participating in the Grand March on Saturday should line up for the march by 12:45 p.m. and have pennies equal to their age (or other coins if you want to contribute more!) ready to drop in the basket at the base of the hill. The money collected supports Berry scholarships.
In addition to the pennies, students are encouraged to wear specific colors which represent the uniforms that Berry students wore in the earlier years of the school. Historically, Senior women have worn pastel blue dresses or blue shirts with skirts, pants or shorts and senior men wore white shirts with pants or shorts. Junior, Sophomore and Freshman women have worn pastel pink dresses or pink shirts with skirts, pants or shorts, and the men have worn light blue shirts with pants or shorts.
Although the Grand March colors were assigned in the past based on gender and classification, students today can wear the color of their choice or may opt to dress in navy or silver to represent the College’s colors of today.
Prior to the march, students, alumni, family members and other guests are treated to a concert performed by the Berry College Wind Ensemble.
Please note the information provided on the Parking and Traffic page to navigate Mountain Campus on Saturday.
Marthapalooza is the main student event Saturday night and takes place from 10pm until 2am on main campus. This event includes carnival rides, booths and games, food and other activities. Students get in FREE with ID and event wristband, which is distributed at the Campus Information Desk the week prior the event. Guest tickets for Marthapalooza may be purchased the week prior to the event at the Campus Information Desk or at the event entrance gate. Students should also be on the lookout for opportunities to purchase the annual Marthapalooza event shirt, which is typically the first long-sleeved shirt for fall semester.
OTHER EVENTS OF INTEREST
There is so much going on during the weekend that everyone should find activities of interest all over campus. Here are a few highlights:
Athletics - Berry Volleyball and Berry Football will host home games Friday (volleyball only) and Saturday afternoon. Tickets are required for entry to the football game. Students may pick up their free ticket at the Campus Information Desk the week of as well as purchase additional tickets for $10 (plus tax).
Berry Enterprises – Mid-afternoon, several of Berry’s student enterprises, as well as other local vendors, will have tents set up along Memorial Drive, adjacent to the Clara Bowl. The Berry Shipyard also has special hours of operation and will offer official Mountain Day merchandise for sale beginning October 2.
Family Activities – Several activities are offered on Saturday for “future Vikings,” including inflatable games and ice cream vendor on Mountain Campus during the picnic. This year, the Physics Department is hosting a viewing of the partial solar eclipse, which will occur mid-day on Saturday. Safety viewing cards and a telescope will be on-site at the picnic for families to utilize. Following the events on Mountain Campus, the Marthapalooza Committee provides a "Family Hour" option Saturday afternoon for faculty, staff and alumni with children ages 5-12. Cost is $5 per person and children must be accompanied by an adult. Current Berry students with younger siblings in this age group may also attend, and students must present Marthapalooza wristband for entry.
Fine Arts – The Berry College Theatre Company (BCTC) hosts their annual Mountain Day production Thursday through Sunday at Sisters Theatre. Tickets are sold in advance and reservations advised. The Berry Singers perform Friday evening at Bell Recital Hall and will also sing during the Sunday morning chapel service.
Historic Berry – The Martha Berry Museum hosts an open house Saturday afternoon for guests, which includes tours of Oak Hill, Martha Berry’s home. Bus rides up to the House of Dreams are offered Saturday during the picnic. Tickets must be purchased on-line prior to the weekend, and space is limited.
Ticket Information – Take care of your Mountain Day ticket needs at the Campus Information Desk (Krannert Center) beginning Monday, October 2. Berry ID must be presented for both purchase and pick-up.
*Berry is a substance-free campus