Fox Fest Goes 'Around the World'

Flyers can be found around campus about the schedule for Fox Fest. Photo by Ava Battinelli '26

Community growth is the goal for this assessment day; the setting: Fox Fest. 

In the past, student attendees at Fox Fest have been scarce. But this year, hopes for Fox Fest’s success are set high. 

“I see the future where the whole entire green could be loaded up like a major village,” said Director of Student Activities, Bob Lynch, anticipating the growth of Fox Fest. 

Fox Fest is set to kick off at 10 a.m. on April 15, purposefully just one day after Natasha Beddingfield’s performance at the Spring Concert. 

“...You can see this amalgamation of activities. The 15th happens to be assessment day. So our students need something to do,” said Lynch. “It's gonna grow into something much bigger in the future. It's gonna be more of a spring flingy type of thing, and as we add more and more things to it, as it progresses later down the road.”

The hope for Fox Fest is to unite students of all ages, backgrounds, majors and interests in a fun spring day. It will also offer a bit of a learning opportunity to align with the theme, “Foxes Around the World.”

“That is great because it represents different cultures, and especially in a university, people come from a lot of different backgrounds,” said Residence Hall Association President Luke Adami ‘29. “So I think this year is also a little bit informational, whereas last year, I think there was a safari theme.”

In addition to the theme of cultural diversity, Fox Fest will offer activities such as inflatables, games, arts and crafts and a tethered balloon ride. The Red Fox Rumble is also making a comeback after requests from the senior class. 

“I really think it's something where students can come thinking they'll stay for 10 minutes, and stay for a couple of hours because once they're there, they won't want to leave,” said Adami. 

A unique aspect of the event is the housing tours that will be offered at the beginning of the day. The tours are intended for underclassmen to check out where they may be living in the next few years.

The rest of the day includes a picnic and the showing of “Wicked.”

“It's perfect. I mean the tethered air balloon… There was a nice little theme there. No one even put it together,” Lynch laughed. 

The event will be a culmination of efforts around campus, from the Student Programming Council, the Student Government Association, Residence Life, the Student Affairs department and the McCann staff. 

But the biggest challenge is completely out of anyone's control: weather. In the case of rain, the activities would be moved to the McCann gym. 

“We're planting seeds, no doubt,” Lynch said. “So we're taking a really phenomenal program that was in the past, and we're making it bigger.”

The organizations behind the event, like Residence Life and the RHA, have been working on the logistics of this event for the entire semester. 

“I think it's a great opportunity where Marist University can celebrate, once again, with a major event for everybody,” said Lynch. “That community can get so, so much bigger.”