A little less than 1,000 students gathered on the front lawn Sept. 27 for an annual California Baptist University tradition, the Barn Dance.
The Barn Dance is a festive event that includes country music, line dancing and community spirit. Hosted by Community Life, it has been a highlight of the fall semester for many years.
This year’s event featured string lights, photo ops and a new soda stand. The creativity behind the soda stand appeared to be the highlight of the night. The drinks had names based on CBU-themed “Easter eggs,” including “Lady Fortuna,” “Riverside Refresher,” “Lancer Vibe,” “Palm Drive” and “Dr. Ellis.” Combinations such as Sprite and grenadine, and Coke and coconut enticed students.
The inspiration for this year’s Barn Dance was Stagecoach, a popular country music festival. Natalie Rivas, Community Life intern, shared more about the planning process.
“It was very extensive,” she said. “We started planning back in August, and it was definitely stressful at times. We worked on our Barn Dance sign and organizing the drink menus. Some challenges included figuring out how many drinks to order for the number of guests we estimated.”
Community Life also hired a professional line dancer to lead students, many of whom gathered in front of the stage to try to keep up with the steps. For students like Laura Gonzales, freshman Spanish Major, this was their first Barn Dance.
“I’ve never line danced before, but I’ve seen it and thought, ‘Okay, I want to try it,’” Gonzales said. “That’s why I wanted to come.”
The event also attracted upperclassmen, many of whom were experiencing the Barn Dance for the first time. Whether drawn by the festive atmosphere, the music or the chance to unwind with friends, the dance welcomed a wide range of participants.
Some students who had missed out in previous years were eager to attend. Paloma Celis, junior kinesiology major, shared her excitement about participating in the tradition.
“Some of my friends went last year and had only fun things to say about it,” Celis said. “I transferred to CBU last year, so I wanted to be part of something so fun.”
The Barn Dance proved to be a memorable night for all in attendance, continuing a long-standing tradition that brings together students from all backgrounds.
