10. The Purdue Grand Prix.
They call it “the greatest spectacle in college racing,” and that seems like a pretty accurate statement. This annual go-kart race is open to all students at Purdue and even alumni who will often come back to their old campus just to participate. The actual race is one thing, but the event itself has become such an important event in the Purdue year that it’s pretty much a weeklong party leading up to the race.
Photo Credit: Purdue Grand Prix
9. Virginia Tech’s annual snowball fight.
This tradition dates back to when Virginia Tech’s entire student body consisted of Reserve Officers in the Training Corps. Even though that’s no longer the case, as a throwback to those days, current students wait for the first big snowfall of the year and then break themselves into two groups: cadets and civilians. After that, they pelt each other with snowballs like there’s no tomorrow.
Photo Credit: Business Insider
8. The Sod Cemetery at Florida State University.
Here’s a strange one. On the grounds of FSU lies a small cemetery built to memorialize random pieces of sod, the first of which was taken from Sanford Stadium’s football field after players were dared to do so by a professor. When the professor was presented with the first chunk of sod, he buried it in commemoration of FSU’s most recent victory. The tradition of sod-stealing continues to this day, carried on by sneaky team captains who steal hunks of sod from the fields of their opponents.
Photo Credit: Rivals
7. The Dartmouth Winter Carnival.
When a carnival is referred to by some as “the Mardi Gras of the North,” you know it’s one heck of a party. Dartmouth’s annual festival has been going on since 1910 and includes winter themed activities, competitions, and all kinds of entertainment. Students will throw insane parties of their own during the Winter Carnival and they’ll also compete in a snow sculpture building contest where some truly elaborate works of art take shape on the campus green.
Photo Credit: Flickr
6. The Krispy Kreme Challenge at North Carolina State.
Here’s a tradition that helps raise money for a good cause. Students at NC State participate in this challenge to support the North Carolina Children’s Hospital. The challenge consists of running 2.5 miles to a local Krispy Kreme donut store, scarfing down a dozen donuts, and then running 2.5 miles back to campus. This tradition began in 2004 as a dare amongst students, but has now become a major yearly event.
Photo Credit: Krispy Kreme Challenge
