As Dead Week and finals week loom over students, the Student Activities Board hosted its second annual Big Blue Carnival to bring a little bit of light-hearted fun before studies commence.

Just like an authentic carnival, the Orange Lot of Commonwealth Stadium’s parking lot was filled with live music, food vendors like Noodles and Company and Papa Johns, and traditional carnival rides, all for free with student ID.

Foreign language and international economics sophomore Aiko Lovejoy volunteered at the event, which she also went to last year, by handing out pizza.

“We have new rides and this year we have new venders like Papa Johns and the games are different, we didn’t have games last year,” Lovejoy said. “People are having a good time and there is a lot of faculty here with their families. I think that’s a nice way to give back to the community.”

SAB President Olivia Senter played a big role in organizing all of the events on campus that will be preparing students for upcoming tests and projects.

“This event is the second year it’s been put together and it was very successful last year. We had a really good turnout of students,” Senter said. “We wanted a solid event to wrap up the year and a carnival was the best way to do that.”

SAB sent out a campus wide email to ask students what kind of event they wanted to precede Dead Week and the most favored option was a carnival.

“I think it’s a great way to start off finals week whether you are going into the next semester or the next chapter in your life, it’s just a celebration for students,” Senter said.

Music and health sciences freshman Taylor Tuftee has five finals coming up, and said she was grateful for the effort SAB put to encourage students in this tiring time.

“I like that it’s before dead week because it’s easier to de-stress before dead week. I do believe it’s a great way to bring students out to help with stress before finals,” Tuftee said.

Biology junior Brad Hull said he was excited to come back next year, but that he would have loved to have seen fireworks. 

“I came last year and was excited UK offered something like this, so of course I’m going to come,” Hull said. “Besides the free food it’s a great atmosphere and just a good way of clearing your head before all the stress begins. I will definitely come next year if they offer it again.”