RIT’s FreezeFest offers skating, comedy, performing arts and a mechanical reindeer

What better way to enjoy the winter than celebrating the season with some hot chocolate, ice skating, musical entertainment, free swag and an escape room to get away from winter’s icy grip.

Those are just a few of the activities lined up for this year’s FreezeFest, Thursday through Sunday, put on by Rochester Institute of Technology’s College Activities Board.

“It’s a big weekend for us,” said Kat Temple, director of the CAB. “We want to celebrate winter, but we also want to welcome students back to the start of a new semester and give them happy things to do this time of year.”

Highlights this year include comedian Jon Fisher, a mechanical reindeer ride (a cousin to the mechanical bull ride) and RIT President David Munson’s Performing Arts Challenge, where a dozen student acts – from skits to dance and musical groups – compete for a monetary prize. A steel drum band is also expected to perform in non-competition.

And free FreezeFest swag – always popular with students – will be handed out randomly during the weekend. “It’s usually clothing, but I don’t even know what it is this year. It’s a big secret,” Temple said.

Activities, all free unless otherwise stated, include:

Thursday, Jan. 30:

• Movie, Knives Out, 9 to 11 p.m., Ingle Auditorium. A detective investigates the death of a patriarch of an eccentric, combative family.

Friday, Jan. 31:

• FreezeFest events, Student Alumni Union lobby, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy a candy/hot cocoa bar, get a portrait drawn by a caricature artist, visit the photobooth inside a giant snow globe. Popcorn and cotton candy will also be available.
• President Munson’s Performing Arts Challenge, 6 to 8 p.m., Ingle Auditorium.
• Brick City Bopper’s Swing Dance Lesson, 8 p.m. to midnight, Fireside Lounge.
• Chocolate on Ice, 9 p.m. to midnight, Gene Polisseni Center. Enjoy ice skating, chocolate desserts and other activities. Bring or rent skates. Admission is $3, or free with a donation of three non-perishable food items for RIT FoodShare.

Saturday, Feb. 1:

• FreezeFest events, Student Alumni Union lobby, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy a candy/hot cocoa bar. Popcorn and cotton candy will also be on hand.
• Winter Warrior Course, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Grace Watson Field. A 12-part obstacle course testing speed, agility and teamwork, hosted by Phi Kappa Psi and Sigma Chi to benefit the Veterans Outreach Center. Two-person teams, $5 per person.
• Mechanical Reindeer, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Davis Room, Campus Center. See how long you can stay on the mechanical reindeer.
• Escape Rooms, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Davis Room, Campus Center. Solve puzzles in a specialty-themed escape room. Sign up at the event to reserve a time.
• Build-A-Buddy, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or while supplies last), Fireside Lounge. Build a furry friend to hug during the cold winter season.
• Comedian Jon Fisher performs in Ingle Auditorium, 7 to 8 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 2:

• Super Bowl watch party, on big screens in the Gordon Field House, with free pizza and wings. Doors open at 6 p.m., kickoff at 6:30 p.m.