As midterm season is just around the corner, students are all the more stressed coming into the fall season. To combat these overwhelming feelings, University Housing hosted A Worry Free Fall Festival.

The festival offered a number of different things and activities to help students relax such as Starbucks coffee, cupcakes, popcorn, a technology raffle, pumpkin painting, wood painting, ax throwing, a pop-up library, and even live bunnies. 

“It’s really fun,” freshman Omarious Gray said. “I like how everyone’s out here, no one’s like arguing or nothing. You get to see people you’ve never met before, it’s really—it’s a great hangout.”

The festival was held right outside of the Centennial Place dorm buildings, where many freshmen live, so the event was full of mostly freshmen. Many of these freshmen are taking their first college-level midterm, so the event helped take their minds off of their upcoming assignments. 

“Right before this I was stressing about going to the library and how many assignments I have due this weekend, but now it’s just eh, you know? It’s fall time, I’m excited,” freshman Zamyah Holmes said. 

Unfortunately, the festival was one of the last in-person events held on campus before Hurricane Helene hit late Thursday night. This caused a cloudy atmosphere and lower attendance, as some students had already begun to make their way home for the weekend.

The counseling center offers countless ways to help destress before exams or anytime of the year. They’re hosting a self-care clinic on October first, and a coping skills workshop on October fourth.