Ball State University students can run around in a fun house, play inflatable lazer tag and eat all the sno-cones and cotton candy they want for free today at the University Program Board's Late Nite Carnival.
The carnival is UPB's largest event and had a turnout of more than 6,000 people last year, Sara Shelton, Late Nite co-director, said. They weren't expecting so many people at the Carnival last year and found themselves overwhelmed.
"We were shocked," Shelton said. "We're trying to make it an annual thing. It's so huge."
Because last year's turnout was so large, UPB is expecting about 10,000 people to go to the Carnival tonight. The organization wanted to accommodate the increased number of people, so it expanded this year's carnival by adding rides and games.
UPB added four rides and two games for a total 10 rides and eight games, which the traveling amusement park Mid America Shows provided. The new games are the Yo-Yo, Skater, Cliff Hanger and Big Slide, Brian Dietz, said.
UPB members were on the commuter lot C-1, where the carnival will take place today, all day Thursday setting up the rides and preparing for today's event, which runs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Dietz said.
Shelton said UPB set up a preregistration system for students in an attempt to keep the admission line as short as possible. Students who want to preregister should go to the Atrium or to the Pruis Hall box office between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. today and present their BSU I.D.s to get admittance wristbands. Students have to wear their wristbands to get into the special line that allows them to get into the Carnival faster. There will be two other lines for faculty, guests and students who didn't preregister.
"Basically, it's their get-in-the-door-before-everyone-else pass," Shelton said. Student admission is free, but faculty and guests must pay $5.
Sno-cones, kettle corn, cotton candy and Pepsi will be available for free, but elephant ears, corndogs and nachos and be purchased at discounted prices, Dietz said. He said UPB was able to get deals for the food so nothing will cost more than $4.
Even if students don't like rides, there are plenty of other things to keep them entertained, Shelton said.
There will also be a variety of carnival games, including Skee Ball and Flip A Chic, as well as a balloon man on stilts and an airbrush tattoo artist. Participants can buy souvenir photo keychains as well, Shelton said.
"It's awesome," she said. "If you don't like rides, just hang out with friends."
If it rains today, the Carnival will be canceled and will take place from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. However, the event won't be canceled just because it's drizzling outside or even if it rains all day and stops before the Carnival is slated to begin. Shelton said students should still come out, even if they aren't sure the event is still going on.
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