Affinity Festival

Swirling dresses, cyclones of colorful fabric, music spirals through the air, the smell of Egyptian lasagna wafts amidst the booths – a snippet of the first year of Northfield’s newest tradition: the Spring Affinity Festival. A fresh opportunity for Nighthawks to celebrate their culture and those of their fellow students, and enjoy a rousing night of festivities before finals season begins.

For this evening of wonder, booths lined the sidewalk, each one boasting delights and delicacies from Northfield’s affinity clubs, including the Arab Student Alliance, Black Student Alliance, Women’s Alliance, La Raza, Asian American Pacific Islander Club, and the Gender-Sexuality Alliance. Behind the stands, a towering inflatable slide in the form of a giant pirate ship rose up, and a mechanical bull ring sat nearby for anyone daring enough to try their hand at the rodeo.

The afternoon was aglow with the shining smiles of our Nighthawk community, but unfortunately, crazy Colorado weather quite literally rained on our parade. To escape the wind and the drizzle, the party was moved inside, and the festival never even skipped a beat. Talented performers took to the stage, dancing and twirling to the beat, while the audience cheered on from their seats.

Caught up as we were with the magical event, we were surprised when it finally came to an end. But the closing performance by the head organizer of the event, Maluhola Maka, was a perfect way to end the night. After a moving speech of gratitude and a stunning dance, Maka bid us all good night, and entrusted the next generation of Nighthawks to carry on her legacy: a night of celebration and community. To that end, we’ll be looking forward to next year’s 2nd Annual Spring Affinity Fest, and we hope to see you there. Here’s to many more celebrations to come.