Photos by Matt Hembree (C’20)
Pumpkin carving photo courtesy of Rick Wright
By Lawrence Rogers (C’20)
Executive Staff
On Wednesday, October 26, The McClurg Dining Hall staff welcomed Sewanee students, members of the faculty, and community families for a night of “Spooktacular” dining fun in anticipation of Halloween. Participants were told to come in their “finest wizard and witch regalia” and that all wands would be checked at the door.
The campus was inundated with elementary-school-aged children from the area, who arrived at the dining hall in their Halloween best. Dozens of Spidermen, vampires, ghosts, and witches dug into Whomping Willow leaves, hot and spicy dragon wings, and Slytherin noodles, all washed down with Butterbeer and pumpkin juice.
“It was fun to see the community come together at Clurg, and I especially enjoyed seeing all of the children’s costumes,” said Megan Wade (C’19) of the event.
In addition to enjoying such otherworldly delicacies as vampire blood salad, delicious golden snitches, and self-propelling custard pie, attendees were invited to compete in the Magical Dance-Off and use the equally magical selfie photo booth.
One of the events of the night was a pumpkin-carving competition, giving the creator of the best Jack-o-Lantern a gift certificate to Stirling’s. First place went to “Brain,” carved by Amanda Carl (C’17), second place went to Mimi House (C’20) for her spooky pumpkin “Mouth,” and Krystal Fowler (C’19) won third place for her “Cheshire Cat.”
For avid Harry Potter fan Emily Shriner (C’18), it was the dining staff’s adherence to the Hogwarts theme that made the night so special. “I thought the level of detail in the decorations at McClurg was really great. The Hogwarts-themed food and drinks were all very impressive, but I was most amused by the floating candles and the little details that really set the Harry Potter theme.”