Mid-Winter Ball is a tradition that was started in 1981. This event occurs once a year on the Saturday night during Midterm Break in the middle of Winter term. Originally started as a Viennese ball, the event is now pretty much just a fun opportunity to dress up and go to a party with your friends. There is dancing, food, and a Photo Booth, which has been sponsored by the Coalition of Hmong Students since 2015 (Coalition of Hmong Students 2020). The event is usually held in the Sayles Hill Campus Center and has three different spaces; in 2020, student DJs performed in the Great Space, the Roseville Big Band in the Great Hall, and Salsa del Soul in the Severance Tea Room (Midwinter Ball 2020). This year, Carleton hosted the first-ever virtual Midwinter Ball! The event starts at around 9 pm and normally lasts until 1 or 2 in the morning.
Sources:
Image: Unknown Creator. “Midwinter Ball; 03.jpg.” 2015. Carleton College Archives. https://archivedb.carleton.edu/index.php?p=digitallibrary/digitalcontent&id=87343. Accessed March 2nd, 2021.
Information:
Bierley, Alvin. “Midwinter Ball: Alvin talks about Midwinter Ball, one of Carleton’s many traditions.” Carleton College Admissions Blog. February 8, 2019. https://www.carleton.edu/admissions/blog/midwinter-ball/ Accessed March 13, 2021.
“Carleton Traditions | Student Activities | Carleton College.” n.d. Accessed March 3, 2021. https://apps.carleton.edu/campus/campact/traditions/.
Coalition of Hmong Students. “CHS MidWinter Ball Photobooth.” Carleton College Website, last updated June 15, 2020. Accessed March 13, 2021. https://www.carleton.edu/student/orgs/chs/events/photobooth/
Johnson, Haley. “Celebrating the 30th annual Mid-Winter Ball: The history behind the tradition.” The Carletonian, February 5, 2010. https://thecarletonian.com/2010/02/05/celebrating-the-30th-annual-mid-winter-ball-the-history-behind-the-tradition/ Accessed March 13, 2021.
“Midwinter Ball 2020 | Student Activities | Carleton College.” n.d. Accessed March 13, 2021. https://apps.carleton.edu/campus/campact/programs/mwb/
“Midwinter Ball 2021 | Student Activities | Carleton College.” n.d. Accessed March 13, 2021. https://apps.carleton.edu/campus/campact/programs/mwb2021/
