The Flash Activity Board hosted the 43rd annual Black Squirrel Fest Sept. 12, celebrating Kent’s unofficial mascot. 

The event coincided with Parents and Families Appreciation Weekend, where students and families had the opportunity to discover new clubs and learn more about the university.

Food trucks and student organization tables filled Risman Plaza and the Student Green. Students who arrived early enough could swipe their FlashCard and get a free event t-shirt. 

Huge lines formed for free caricatures and photo booths as music played in the background. The sign for the photo booth, ‘Get a prop and strike a pose!’ encouraged students to have fun with colorful sunglasses and bedazzled cowboy hats.

New this year at the Black Squirrel Fest were crafts, which is one activity FAB President Ana Hasselbusch loves about the event.  

“I love the little craft that we have … Students have the opportunity to make little black squirrels out of Dixie cups, and I think that is super cute,” Hasselbusch, a senior hospitality and event management major, said. 

Using Dixie cups, tacky glue and googly eyes, students could create their very own black squirrel to take with them as a memory of the fest. 

At the Kent State University Western Equestrian Team’s table, Lauren Sigrist, a senior environmental conservation biology major, appreciated the opportunity to show people that Kent has equestrian teams, along with “getting the word out there and being able to get more people access to horses because it’s a hobby that can become very hard to access.” 

Before joining, Sigrist did not know KSU had an equestrian team. After seeing a friend who was involved in the club, Sigrist joined and is now the president. 

Being at the Black Squirrel Fest allowed others to become aware of Kent’s equestrian sports, Sigrist said. Students had the opportunity to sign up for the club as well. 

“We usually get a pretty decent amount of sign-ups,” Sigrist said. 

Other tables allowed students to sign up for clubs and organizations and enter free giveaways.

Jenny Ostlund, a freshman exploratory major, said she looked forward to seeing what was going on at the Black Squirrel Festival and signed up for student clubs. 

“I kind of got overinvolved, actually,” Ostlund said.

The food selection at the fest included a variety of boba tea flavors, the Roll Call Burgers and Fries food truck and more. Picnic tables around the Student Center allowed for students and families to sit and enjoy a meal together. 

“I’m looking forward to the food,” freshman business management major Claire Wenning said. “I see people walking away with stuff that looks pretty good.”

Hasselbusch said she hopes that students are drawn to all that the Black Squirrel Festival has to offer. 

“I really hope what mainly draws students in is the tradition,” she said.

Loreal Puleo is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].

Sofia Helena Dambros da Silvia is a Kent Stater TV reporter. Contact her at [email protected].