Every October, AUM would hold a harvest moon festival. Although we don’t currently hold a Harvest Moon Festival on campus, it’s interesting to look back to see how AUM students and staff had fun in the past.
This AUMnibus article is from October of 1982. Did any of you go to the festival? If so, what were some of your favorite memories? Do you wish the festival would come back? Let us know in the comments.
A text transcript of the article follows the picture.
The Auburn University at Montgomery Harvest Moon Festival, held Oct. 10, featured a sun-filled afternoon of music, special event booths, food concessions, arts and crafts and parachuting exhibitions.
Music for the event was provided by three local bands. “Southbound Glory,” a bluegrass band, opened the festival. Next, a new rock band called “Nox” entertained the crowd. “Passion,” a last-minute entry soulful-rock band, closed out the afternoon.
Although the estimated 1,750 attendance was down from last year, attributed by several SGA sources and festival participants to insufficient publicity, the Harvest Moon Festival ran very smoothly, according to SGA President Danny Smith. He said, “The SGA staff really worked hard.” He added, “Proceeds from the festival come back to the students through future SGA-sponsored activities.”
Smith said that he appreciated the efforts of all three bands. He added, “I really want to thank ‘Passion’ for agreeing to appear at the last minute. I would also like to express my thanks to ‘Southbound Glory’ for loaning their equipment to ‘Passion.’ According to SGA Vice President Noland McMillian, “Celebrity Ball” cancelled on Saturday, and “Passion” was contracted at midnight to fill in.
Special event booths, operated by various campus organizations, provided festival-goers with the opportunity for both fun and revenge on faculty and other clubs.
Small children could ride a pony or buy a special children’s treat from the AUM Speech and Hearing Association.
Other activities included the Army ROTC sponsored rifle shoot, which provided winners with their choice of a turkey or ham. Winners included: Paul Farquhar, whose wife, Jolene, attends AUK Dean Bing, a student; Dwayne Billingslea, also a student; and Donald McGhee, a Montgomery resident.
Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies offered revenge for a small fee. Those paying the price threw Cool Whip pies, or in some cases smeared Cool Whip pies, into the faces of their selected victims including-faculty members.
A less messy revenge could be found at the Zeta Tau Alpha jail. For 23 cents per five minutes, the Zeta deputies captured and confined numerous unsuspecting people from the audience chosen by those paying their quarters.
Inmates, whose membership included the AUM Campus police, served their sentences or paid a price for freedom. According to Zeta member Sherri Hall, proceeds from the booth benefit the Association for Retarded Citizens.
Food concessions ranged from hamburgers and hot dogs to sweets such as sopailpillas, candied apples and cotton candy. All of the food was sold by campus clubs. Soft drinks were also available.
Approximately a dozen arts and crafts vendors setup their wares at the Harvest Moon Festival. Selections included plants, ceramics, dolls, jewelry and leather goods.
At 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., a team of parachutists from Prattville descended on the festival site. Leaping from as high as 8,500 feet, the jumpers guided their multi-colored parachutes slowly to the ground as the crowd looked on.
The seventh annual festival was co-sponsored by the AUM Student Government Association and WHHY/Y102 radio.
Thanks to all of our Journalism Practicum staff members for doing editing work on the web articles. It’s a big help!
[ Edited by Jade Curtis - 10/3/13]