Ramapalooza unites Cornellians with fun and friendship

September 25, 2024

A Cornell-style carnival unfolded on the Tri-Hall lawn on a sunny September day for all Cornellians to celebrate the end of the first block and maybe meet someone new.

Students get their photos done by a caricature artist
A caricature artist drew pictures for students throughout Ramapalooza.

Ramapalooza has become a campus tradition with all kinds of fun activities.

“I think it’s awesome because, yes, we are all technically adults, but it’s just fun to embrace our inner second grader and do inflatables, have snow cones, and dunk your RA! Like—that’s fun,” said PAAC Purple Chair Kimberly Hall.

The event is organized by the Performing Arts & Activities Council (PAAC), which is the student team that programs entertainment options throughout the year for the whole student body. Ramapalooza is one of the biggest events for PAAC, and they started planning it during Block 8 of the previous academic year.

Student smiles at the camera while standing in the water of a dunk tank.
Anthony Arizmendi spent time during Ramapalooza in the dunk tank.

“We have little counters and we keep track of how many people come and keep track of what’s popular and make sure to bring those things back,” said PAAC Marketing Chair Fiona Anderson. “Kona Ice, for example, is always really popular. We make sure to bring that one back every year and then we test out other things.” 

This year’s event had two inflatables (an obstacle course and a jousting arena), a caricature artist, a dunk tank, lawn games, a Kona Ice truck, baked goods from White Tree Bakery, fill-your-own snack bags, tie-dye, cotton candy, and music provided by KRNL–Cornell’s student-run online radio station.

Student makes cotton candy for students during Ramapalooza.
Cotton candy anyone?

“The idea is to have a fun event to encourage, especially, first-years to stay on campus during block break,” Hall said. “But Ramapalooza is for everyone to have a good time and mingle. My first year, I was a transfer student, so I didn’t have the typical New Student Orientation or First-Year Seminar. So, I met a lot of my first friends here at Ramapalooza–just doing the obstacle courses against random people, and I still hang out with them.”

Junior Anthony Arizmendi, who is a resident assistant (RA), spent time in the dunk tank during Ramapalooza this year. And even as students hit the target and sent him splashing down into the water, he had a smile on his face.

“I think this event is really fun! It brings all of campus together, and I’m glad we can all do something like this as a community,” Arizmendi said.