From free movies and tie-dying T-shirts on the quad, the events of the 39th annual AnTostal will distract students from their homework throughout the week.
AnTostal - Gaelic for "the festival" - returns to Notre Dame's campus this week as a celebration of spring. Events this year are a mix of old and new, and the Student Union Board (SUB), AnTostal's sponsor and organizer, hopes to bring the traditional festival back to its early days of glory.
SUB spends the entire year programming this event that hopes to "truly complete the college campus experience outside the classroom," SUB manager Pat Vassel said.
"In years past, AnTostal was a completely unifying event for the Notre Dame campus, with every student participating in one way or another," Vassel said.
The events begin today and continue through Saturday, April 29th. Events are free and open to the entire Notre Dame community.
On Monday students can tie-dye T-shirts in front of O'Shaughnessy Hall on South Quad and some students will receive Panera bagels that will be delivered to selected classrooms.
The First Annual Dorm Olympics scheduled for Tuesday allow students to participate in mattress races down South Quad, obstacle courses and wing eating contests.
"This year, the AnTostal committee has made a special effort to reach out to the dorms with the Dorm Olympics," Vassel said. "A number of dorms will be participating in a wide range of events, and that level of student involvement is really what AnTostal is all about."
A showing of "Top Gun" on North Quad and the Quarter Dog Eating Contest - two annual traditions - will take place Tuesday evening.
Thursday's carnival on North Quad boasts a Mechanical Bull, Euro Bungee ride, caricature artist and other traditional carnival games.
AnTostal's musical events include Thursday's AcoustiCafe, which will take place on the Fieldhouse Mall. Friday evening Legends will host the annual Battle of the Bands, which will feature ten student groups. Judges and audience voting determine which band will be deemed the best of Notre Dame. The evening's events will conclude with lat night Karaoke at Reckers.
On Saturday students can return to Legends to hear rock band Matchbook Romance.
"Whether through contests, performances, or any other variety of activities, students in decades past always looked forward to the end of the year celebration organized by the Student Union Board," Vassel said.
