On Wednesday, February 1, the last walkthrough dinner before Long Winter Weekend, students were greeted by the cotton candy and balloons characteristic of the annual Carnival Night, a long established tradition. According to Director of Food Service Michael McCarthy, the event has happened every year of his more than twenty years at Deerfield. This year, most of the food was prepared by the Dining Hall staff, and a company called Total Entertainment provided the inflatable attractions, the cotton candy machine, and some pre-packaged foods.
Carnival Night with its whimsical theme and sugar-loaded food options makes it a hit event for faculty children. Brooksy McVaugh, age two, said, “I liked the French fries AND the fried dough.” Many of the smaller details of the event that high-school students might neglect or dislike create a special experience for younger community members. Liam McVaugh, age four, said, “I liked the balloons! And I didn’t like that we didn’t get to try the bouncy house… that was my least favorite part.”
Ashley LaBrucherie ’23, however, was critical of carnival night. Pointing to the “excessive” amount of food, bottles, and plastic inflatables, she said, “I felt that this is what American consumerism has become—the boundless use of commodities for very insignificant occasions.”
The food, however, sparked mixed opinions among students. Adaugo Nwaokoro ’24 said that though she appreciated the candy, the food “didn’t seem like an actual meal.” On the other hand, James Kurto ’25 said that he “liked the sausage dogs.” In fact, Mr. McCarthy said that students “ate more of [the corn dogs] in the past two years than ever.”
Regarding the future of the carnival, Brandon Smith ’26 said that he would appreciate if the carnival was separate from that night’s dinner. Max Wang ’25 added that he would like to see the carnival in either the fall or spring, for a Sunday brunch.
After the events, the Dining Hall staff cleaned up as usual, and the only remnants of Carnival Night were a few lingering balloons along the ceiling. When asked about future plans for the event, Mr. McCarthy said he has yet to make plans to change Carnival Night. “I think it’s a good menu,” he says. “I don’t have any plans for change, but I’m open to suggestions.”