Attendees sit around a firepit at Founding Fest in 2023. Courtesy | Hillsdale College

Founding Fest will celebrate Hillsdale College’s 180th anniversary with alpacas, a chocolate fountain, and campfires in the empty lot across the Townhouses on West Street Dec. 7.  

1844 Society will host the event from 5-9 p.m. In its fifth year, the event seeks to bring together students, faculty, staff, and alumni, Associate Director of Alumni Relations Braden VanDyke said in an email. 

Due to the construction of the Diana Davis Spencer Graduate School of Classical Education, VanDyke said they moved the location of Founding Fest. 

“I wanted to keep the event relatively close to campus while affording both accessibility and proper spacing for our needs,” VanDyke said. “We determined with the college that the lot across from the Townhouses would serve our needs well in that endeavor.”

VanDyke said the event will begin with remarks from College President Larry Arnn and Penny Arnn, followed by the lighting of a Christmas tree. 

“The choir will lead the crowd in some Christmas carols,” VanDyke said. “Then we’ll have more fan favorites — ornament making, winter market vendors, campfires and s’mores, hot chocolate and chili bars, mulled wine, yard games, and of course, alpacas.” 

Young Alumni Programs Coordinator Kaeleigh DiCello said having alpacas at the event is fun and matches the Christmas theme of the event. 

“People have loved them every year, so they have become a well-loved tradition,” DiCello said. 

In addition to chili bars and alpacas, Founding Fest coffee mugs will be back this year, according to VanDyke. 

“Since they feature a more winter, forest, and evergreen design, I anticipate they’ll be popular to use year round,” VanDyke said. 

Senior Anna Perrone said she enjoys seeing professors who come to the event with their families and enjoy fellowship with students. 

“It’s always nice to add to your collection of mugs too,” Perrone said. 

Senior Clare Oldenburg said she has been making Christmas ornaments at the event every year since her freshman year and tries to have her friends sign the ornament. 

“Founding Fest is always a fun and cozy event that I look forward to every winter, especially the chocolate fountain,” Oldenburg said. 

DiCello said the alumni office is looking forward to hosting the event. 

“I encourage everybody to come out, and we expect it’s going to be fun at this new location,” DiCello said. 

VanDyke said the alumni office is grateful to host this event. 

“It has become a unique college tradition that pulls all of campus together, whether that be students, faculty, staff and alumni,” VanDyke said. “It reminds us of the enduring partnership we participate in.”