Colorful carriage rides, toasted s’mores and buttery popcorn were only the beginning of what Winterfest had to offer on Thursday night. Students gathered in the Griffin Lawn for a winter-themed night of friendship, fun and snacks. 

NKU Student Engagement Specialist Megan Crouch described her goal for the event as, “bringing the community together, creating those transformative experiences for our campus, and giving [students] that sense of home.”

Winterfest has been held for a few years now, but according to Crouch, did not gain much traction until last year. Their goal this year was to bring back the event bigger and better. 

What was originally “Cocoa with Carriages” (which mainly included horse-drawn carriage rides and hot cocoa) has blossomed into so much more as “Winterfest.” Crouch explained some of this year’s new additions such as the Care Closet, s’mores and Cocoa with Cops. 

Cocoa with Cops is normally held around Valentine’s Day on campus, but the NKU Police Department decided to share the event with Winterfest. 

Lieutenant Dr. Will Love for the NKU Police Department saw the event as a way to break the ice of the new semester and get away from the stress of the first week of classes. 

Love described his favorite part of Winterfest as, “seeing the students enjoying themselves, smiling, getting to know them better and letting them know we’re here supporting them.”

Another big hit of the night was the Care Closet addition held in the Student Union providing free clothing for all students. In the cold of winter, the Care Closet is more important than ever. Students were able to browse through an array of winter clothes, including warm socks and winter coats. 

Crouch expressed the importance of the Care Closet because it makes vital resources available to students in need. 

The Care Closet is open to all students Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. in University Center 142 all semester.