If there is one place to really enjoy all the beauty that fall brings to campus, it is the arboretum. With the help of several student workers every year, Linneaus Arboretum Director and Naturalist Scott Moeller and Administrative Assistant Shirley Mellema put on a free event for students called Fall Fest.

Mellema hopes that the wide spectrum of activities and vendors will make the event fun for all.

“The event is held on family weekend, which provides students with a unique opportunity to share the arboretum with their parents and friends. There will be fun activities such as a treasure hunt, a robotics demonstration, an agility and herding event with border collies, and alpacas, among many others,” Mellema said.

Of the many events the Arboretum puts on, the Fall Fest is considerably the biggest. The festival will showcase talents of local artisans, including Professor of Religion, Mary Solberg’s stained glass art and student Jack Levy’s juggling abilities. Additionally, Musical B.A.R. will supply the event with a plethora of musically talented gusties as the soundtrack to the festivities.

However, it takes quite a bit of planning on the part of the arboretum staff to assemble all of these performers and artists.

“Fall Fest is the Arb’s biggest event of the year, so planning begins as soon the previous Fall Fest ends. Planning this event is an ongoing process that consists of thinking of innovating ideas. Shirley and Scott are the main masterminds of the operation and work hard to think of activities that will reach all ages. They are continually bouncing ideas of off each other and us [their student workers],” Senior Arboretum worker Mary Patterson said.

Another arboretum staff member, Senior Sam Warburton, is eager to see students and community come together and enjoy the activities.

“I’m excited for the community to have a chance to join us here on campus for a good time. Events like these are important for that reason, to keep our connections to the town healthy and strong,” Warburton said.

According to Patterson, with the event is taking place on campus, it’s a convenient way to take a break from studying and enjoy the arboretum before winter hits.

“Gusties should attend because it is a wonderful opportunity to connect to the greater Gustavus community and it’s always fun to bond with friends through laughter, fun, cute dogs, fuzzy alpacas and prizes,” Patterson said.