Fall Fest offers comedy, classes and community

Judah Friedlander

Belly dancing. A petting zoo. Judah Friedlander.

What do they have in common? They’ll all be part of Fall Fest, which begins Thursday evening and runs through Sunday.

The annual family weekend features an array of on- and off-campus events, including faculty and staff presentations, a variety show, a carnival on the Great Lawn, and a trip to see the Blue Man Group perform in Boston.
 
“There’s something very special and maybe underappreciated about Fall Fest,” says Sandra Luo ’15, organizer of the weekend’s on-campus activities. “I’m from California so my parents don’t come out that often. I want to make sure it is a special weekend for everyone whose parents do come.”

But Fall Fest is not only for students whose parents are in tow.

“It’s really a great way to get involved with Brandeis at a low-pressure level,” Luo says. “Some people think, ‘Oh, my parents are coming, so I don’t need to go’ and other people think ‘Oh, my parents aren’t coming, so why go?’ But why not go?”

“It gives families and guests an opportunity to interact with staff, in a way that isn’t necessarily directly related to the work they do on campus,” says Stephanie Grimes, director of student activities.

The festivities kick off Thursday evening with student reflections on Brandeis’ collaboration with the Museum of Science, Boston, on its Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit.

Other highlights will include Thursday Night Live, featuring performances by student improv and standup groups at Chum’s, the student run coffee house in Usen Castle; the annual variety show in Levin Ballroom Saturday evening, a community service opportunity at Waltham’s More Than Words bookstore, and a variety of lectures and prayer services throughout the weekend.

Many students and their families are especially looking forward to Friday night, when “Judah Friedlander: World Champion and Standup Comedian” will perform in Gosman. Tickets for the event are $15; $10 for the Brandeis community; $5 for students, and can be purchased online or by calling Brandeis Tickets at 781-736-3400.

For a full schedule of events, visit the Fall Fest website.