Consider this: bustling burger assembly lines, ice-cold Capri Suns, inflatable slides and obstacle courses, hordes of screaming middle schoolers, and yourself, hair dripping wet and clothes soaked. Why? Well, because you just got dunked in Lakeside’s very own dunk tank, which can be found only once a year on a very special occasion — May Day.
May Day, in short, is Lakeside’s annual spring celebration that takes place this year on Monday, May 6th, at the upper school. Among the bustle, screaming, pushing, and invitations to every possible activity, it can be quite overwhelming, especially for students newer to the tradition. Therefore, your kind and trustworthy “Tatler” friends have collaborated with your Student Government buddies to compile everything you’ll need to know to minimize the chaos and maximize your May Day experience.
The morning of May Day will be a continuation of “Life After Lakeside,” where you’ll be given the opportunity to choose and experience various panels. These panels will be focused on alumni whose careers are connected through different themes, which will be a great opportunity for anyone hoping to find advice, inspiration, and information regarding each alumni’s unique experience with their career.
Once these panels end, you’ll be given the opportunity to explore club stands, inflatable courses, tasty treats, and games from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Candy, food, goods, and services sold at club booths will be paid with tickets, which can be ordered beforehand up until May 3rd via a Google Form sent by Stud Gov. Each ticket costs $0.50 and will be paid for through student ID. However, you can also purchase tickets (or grow your existing ticket collection) at the Student Government booth during May Day, which can be found under a white tent in the middle of the quad. Though you’re free to order as many or as few as you wish, Stud Gov recommends starting with around 20 tickets.
Aside from tickets, the Student Government booth will be the central hub for all things May Day — game-managing, a raffle for the amazing May Day shirts designed by Amber P. ’27, and teacher appreciation note-writing. In addition to these booths, you can find an exciting array of inflatables on Parsons Field, including a bouncy house, giant slide, dunk tank, and obstacle course. And if these inflatables aren’t enough to fuel your sugar-high adrenaline, the North side of the quad will house ping pong tables, outdoor badminton, ladder toss, giant Jenga, a PacMan machine, spikeball nets, cornhole, and more!
Additionally, entertainment will be available on the quad, where a stage will be set up for performances and talent showcases from the Lakeside community. Anybody — including faculty and staff — is welcome to sign up for a performance opportunity via Google Form. Showcase your singing talents, stand-up comedy, a classical music performance, or your virtuosic bagpipe skills; any and all kinds of entertainment are welcome. If you’d like to showcase your baking skills instead (or if you’re a connoisseur of sweets), May Day also has a deliciously fun cake-baking competition. Sign up to join the panel of judges or bake a cake that fits this year’s May Day theme, and have your cake tasted and judged in the Fireplace Room in the WCC!
Lastly, a final reminder that all items at May Day aside from club booth items (paid for with tickets) and shirts (paid for using student IDs) will be completely free, including all games, entertainment, and bouncy inflatables. So stock up on tickets, sign up for whatever May Day talent show or cake-baking act you fancy, prepare a dunk-safe outfit, and lather up in sunscreen for the best spring celebration you’ll ever attend!
