The cold winds didn’t stop the crowd from piling into Barton Hall for ClubFest last Saturday. Just for the day, the field house transformed into the semesterly event where student organizations promote their clubs. The date was moved a day earlier than planned, to Jan. 24, due to the winter storm that was expected to approach by Sunday morning. Despite the sudden change and late notice, many students were ready to explore the different communities present on Cornell campus, including myself.
With over 600 student-led organizations registered to participate in ClubFest, they were separated into two sessions: the first from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and the second from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. While session one generally consisted of clubs in categories ranging from pre-professional Greek Life to recreational sports, session two varied from advocacy to gaming clubs.
I was excited to visit tables I had missed during the prior semester. As I walked on the indoor track, I found myself reflecting back to the Fall 2025 semester’s ClubFest, remembering the overwhelming heat and a feeling of nervousness.
As a freshman, the thought of joining a club seemed imperative. From networking to finding opportunities, I believed that my success in college depended on it. As a result, while it was an informal event, I treated it rather as a formal meet and greet to introduce myself. However, by the end of the semester, I realized I may have slightly overreacted. Of course, there is no denying the competitive club culture at Cornell, everyone rushing to sign up for a coffee chat or to attend the never-ending amount of information sessions. But ClubFest felt different, it was just another school event. Instead of surprise interviews, there were just piles of candies, stickers and flyers.
Knowing the format and the setting of ClubFest, I acted the exact opposite of my prior self. To start, I was overwhelmingly cold, slipping on the way to Barton Hall. Most importantly, I was relaxed because I had learned that I was there to find clubs that aligned with my interests and not for clubs to find students to recruit on the spot.
As I walked around Barton Hall, everything felt more approachable. Despite the staggering number of posters — reflecting the number of clubs that were present — it was exciting to see and hear about organizations, especially those that were recently established. For example, I was introduced to the Coalition for De-Polarization at Cornell, or CDPC, which sought to “create opportunities for showcasing cross-political agreement and promote empathy and constructive disagreement,” according to their flyer.
Along with the approachable atmosphere, it was more comfortable to walk around. This is because, in comparison to the Arts Quad, Barton Hall offered a spacious area where there was not only room for people to move, but also a distance between the clubs and the students. This essentially provided the choice for individuals to explore tables that truly interested them without feeling the pressure to engage in all of the conversations that came their way. In doing so, I came across Matcha Club, where students are able to try new matcha every meeting — and where I will most likely be every other Friday.
Overall, I found myself having a better experience at the Spring 2026 ClubFest. While the flyers and the candies — mostly Skittles and Starburst — remained the same, the different mindset reduced the stress and transformed a campus event into a social gathering.
The sense of ease made me realize how much we have grown over the past semester. From trying out challenging classes to attending new events, college has become someplace familiar. The pressure still exists, but events like these no longer feel like a ‘life-or-death’ situation.
For the incoming Class of 2030, Fall 2026 ClubFest may feel overwhelming. You might have to squeeze your way into the crowd to get to a club you are interested in. You might have so many flyers in your hands that some may start to fall. You might be sweating so much, not just from the heat but also from the number of applications you have to complete. However, by spring, it will become an event to destress from the start of the semester. The abundant amount of candies will also help.
Julia Choi is a freshman in the Brooks School of Public Policy. She can be reached at jc3767@cornell.edu.
