The culture carnival fosters fun before finals

PHOTO: Davis High held its inaugural Culture Carnival on Friday May 17.

By Maya Malinowski

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

Last Friday’s Culture Carnival was two events in one: last year’s Spring Carnival melded with the annual Club Culture Fair.

The aim was to increase attendance.

“We’re taking Culture Fair, making it into a ten times larger event, while also having the fun aspects that draw students in,” co-chair of the Carnival Committee junior Vidya Merchant said. “So it’s just the best of both worlds.”

Students agreed with the changes.

“I think more people will come this year, because they’re gonna be interested in ‘what is this,’ ‘what clothes are they wearing,’” junior Sophia Khaliki said. Khaliki represented Afghanistan on her own both this year and last year, and this year she wore a traditional black dress with pink embroidery and small mirrors adorning the front.

Combining the two events also kept total costs lower. 

“We’re trying to see if there’s a way we can possibly hold annual carnivals that are feasible, that (Student Government) can keep funding every year,” co-chair of the Carnival Committee Aidan Sahar said. “So we’re trying to see how much we can get away with, with less money.”

In the past Student Government has relied on the School Site Committee (SSC) to provide funds for events like these. However, because ASB will have to fund the carnival starting in 2025, but this year’s costs were reduced by one third.

The SSC manages a portion of the funds given to the Davis Joint Unified School District by the state. They decide where to use those funds based on the district’s goals.

The first goal is to close the opportunity gap for students who are considered to be at a disadvantage. The second, to explore and advance 21st century teaching and learning opportunities. And the third, to create an inclusive school environment for all students.

The carnival aligns with the third goal, creating an inclusive school environment, so the SSC approved funding for it. Next year, though, the SSC will have less funds to give out due to a decrease in state revenue.

“Most of the current budget goes toward the Academic Center, andthe carnival is a lower priority for the Site Council,” SSC staff representative and secretary Bruce Cummings said. “The Site Council hopes StudGov will be able to raise more revenue itself next year to fully fund the carnival.”

This year’s carnival was similar to last year’s in some ways. The same company, Fun and Game Experts, ran the games, although getting them to come back took a little extra work.

Riley Johnson was chair of the Carnival Committee last year, and although she’s not in StudGov anymore, she helped convince Fun and Game Experts to return.

“When I was reaching out to the company, they rejected it, they emailed me saying ‘oh, we’re busy on May 17,” Sahar said. “Then I talked to Riley, and said, ‘do a little talking to convince them,’ and next thing I know, they say yes.”

Some things were different this year. Students received a passport book and stamps as they played games and interacted with clubs, earning different prizes depending on the number of stamps they got.

“We just found that would be easier than the whole ‘here’s your paper tickets, let me take your tickets’ and stuff,” said Hyacinth Mailhot, who was in charge of the passports and prizes on the Carnival Committee.

One of the most coveted prizes students could earn by collecting stamps was a giant goose plushy.

“I feel pretty great, I think my little sister’s gonna be pretty happy,” senior Hannah Cui said after winning the plushy. Cui amassed 300 stamps with her friends to get the plushy for her sister.

Some clubs had their own tables, while others were running carnival games provided by StudGov. 

There was also a bouncy house, a food truck, a booth and game run by FFA, and an inflatable velcro wall. Students got into a suit made of velcro to jump onto the wall, and stick themselves to it.

“Last year, a lot of clubs brought a tray or two of their cultural foods, so (this year) a lot of clubs (did that again),” Merchant said.

One such club was the Chinese Culture Club, which had scallion pancakes, chun juan (rolls made with folded layers), Chinese candy, tea, and jellies. There was also paper for calligraphy, and a game called jianzi, or shuttlecock.

“There are a lot of misconceptions about a lot of cultures, including Chinese culture,” club president Christina Chen said. “(But) China has very diverse and unique cultures, practices and traditions, and I think it’s really beautiful.”

Latinos Unidos were there to spread knowledge about their annual events.

“We went to Día de los Muertos at César Chávez (Elementary), we volunteered at the carousel in Central Park, and we did a language fair at Chávez,” vice president Cloe Lamoureux said, all events they are planning on doing again next year. 

Latinos Unidos were also there to showcase the culture that they love. “Lifestyle-wise, (being Latinais) going to quinces, being religious, the language,” Latinos Unidos president Kim Castro said.