FreezeFest aims to chase away the winter blues

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Sean Sullivan

Global Unification was part of last year’s FreezeFest and will be held again this year on Feb. 22.

After a winter of freezing wind, snowy days and a polar vortex, many Rochesterians will be anxiously awaiting spring by the time mid-February rolls around. But at Rochester Institute of Technology, students and RIT community members are encouraged to come out and celebrate the winter season by participating in the fifth annual FreezeFest celebration on campus Feb. 21–23 with more than 30 events throughout the weekend.

The festivities begin Friday, Feb. 21, with the sculpting of a life-size tiger from ice, a human snow globe, sledding and an RIT women’s hockey match-up against Syracuse. Following the 7:05 p.m. game, a frozen dance party, Rock n’ Bingo and a broomball tournament will close out the night.

Events continue Saturday, Feb. 22, with the popular outdoor snowboarding competition, Rail Jam, at noon. At 6 p.m., RIT’s Global Union presents Global Unification, a celebration of RIT’s cultural diversity. Tickets for Global Unification can be purchased online or at the door. Other Saturday events include Olympic curling, food from the Mac-a-Rollin’ food truck and Chocolate on Ice at Ritter Arena.

The weekend’s featured entertainer is comedian John Oliver, best known for his role as writer and correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Opening for Oliver will be Brooks Wheelan of NBC’s Saturday Night Live. Tickets for the 8 p.m. Feb. 22 show are $15 for students with ID; $25 for faculty, staff and alumni; and $41 for the general public. Tickets can be purchased at the Gordon Field House box office, online or by calling 585-475-4121 to charge by phone.

Activities conclude on Sunday, Feb. 23, with a 5K race, the annual bake-off, a first ever for RIT “Fire & Ice Movie Matinee” screening of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and a regional poetry slam event.

“Our goal for FreezeFest weekend is to get students our of their residence halls and engaged in a variety of fun and exciting winter activities and entertainment on campus,” said Rebecca Delaney, assistant director of marketing and event services in RIT’s Center for Campus Life. “In its fifth year we are more collaborative than ever. We really think we provide something for everyone.”

Attendees are encouraged to post and tag all their best photos from the weekend using #RITfreezefest to be entered into the FreezeFest photo contest.