The San José State University Student Union’s Fall Festival encouraged students to leap into the fall spirit on Wednesday.
Hosted at the Student Union Ballroom, the event offered activities like tote bag painting, photobooths, jumbo Jenga and cornhole, according to an Oct. 26 Student Union Instagram post
Hennessy Ortiz Marquina, a third-year psychology student, said this was not the first event where there was a lot of interest in attending.
“I’m glad that we got to the event early because there have been previous events where it gets full and we aren't able to enjoy the event,” Ortiz Marquina said.
After students checked in through SJSU’s Sammy App, they received a lanyard and were directed to snacks and refreshments.
SJSU Sammy App is the official app for SJSU students to have access to any sort of services or information at their fingertips, according to the SJSU webpage.
Snacks included Peter’s Kettle Corn, a small business from Oakland, with kettle popcorn like Caramel Pumpkin Spice, Saigon Cinnamon Sugar and Caramel & Cheese.
For drinks, Alpine Spiced Apple Cider and Swiss Miss hot chocolate were offered alongside an array of tea options such as maple apple cider, decaf pumpkin spice and cinnamon apple chamomile.
“I got the caramel pumpkin spice popcorn, I had never heard of these flavors but was interested in trying them,” Ortiz Marquina said. "It was better than I expected it to be and I can only really describe it as it tasting like fall,”
Students had the option to paint a tote bag, or a cat, pumpkin or ghost ceramic plant pot.
Once students received their items, they were able to enjoy their snacks and begin painting at any open table.
Chatter filled the room and the occasional clanking of wooden Jenga blocks crashing down was followed by laughter.
Alongside the activities, an announcement was made for people to enter in a costume contest.
Allen Duong, a graphic design transfer student, signed up for the costume contest as Makima from Chainsaw Man.
“Right now I am painting a tote, I’m trying to recreate Makima from Chainsaw Man and just kind of using this to de-stress from midterms,” Duong said.
“Chainsaw Man” is an anime show based on the manga where the main character turns into a demon with chainsaws and joins a similar organization to the police, according to an Oct. 22, 2022 Vulture article.
Duong’s handmade costume took him roughly five days to make and ended up winning first place.
Fall Festival was not the first event that Duong had attended at the Student Union, and he encouraged those who are first-time freshmen or transfers to put themselves out there.
Several students finished their painted items and some began to explore the other activities offered.
East Bay Face Painters also offered students free face painting and balloon animals.
Alyne Duong, a first-year microbiology student, received two flower face paint designs and a unicorn balloon animal.
For Alyne, attending this event as a first-year student allowed her to get out of her comfort zone and get more in touch with the San José community.
“I love SJSU so far but it’s difficult to make connections since I commute, but coming to these events have made me love the people on campus and I really feel at home,” said Alyne Duong.
