By Maddison Cervantes
Autumn traditions made an appearance at the University of Nevada, Reno last Wednesday evening. Despite the windy weather, students gathered at Gateway Plaza for the Nevada Wolf Shop’s first Oktoberfest.
The event, hosted by Nevada Wolf Shop employees Vicente Gutierrez and Rebecca Matley, featured fall-themed festivities such as pumpkin decorating, live music, pie eating contests and Halloween-sprinkled cupcakes.
Students participated in the activities while live performer Brittany Straw contributed to the festivities with her signing and ukulele playing.
Oktoberfest provided university students with a slice of autumn celebration, along with opportunities to become involved with local establishments.
Several local businesses tabled at the event to display their products and become more involved with the UNR students. Batch Cupcakery, Al’s Bees Honey and Urban Roots are some examples of companies that offered their commodities.
Free pumpkins were provided for decorating by Urban Roots and their employees Dan Alvey and Brittany Palmer. They are a non-profit business dedicated to educating future community farmers.
“We’re sort of like a baby non-profit, so we want to get our name out there to students,” Palmer said. “We’re education-based, so it’s always great when education or nutrition majors come to help out and volunteer, and then eventually move up to a position.”
Anne Archer, owner of Batch Cupcakery, also stated that involvement with UNR students will be a large asset to both her company and the students.
Archer explained that Batch creates a healthier cupcake option for college students because of their natural and organic flavors. Batch’s cupcakes were not the only deserts available at Oktoberfest.
Once the first pie-eating contest began, the attendees of the event clustered to the table where the pumpkin pies were displayed.
After continuous mouthfuls of pie and a face doused in whipped cream, Carlos Aguerrebere was awarded a $20 gift card to the Wolf Shop and the title of Pie Contest Champion.
The event came to a close at 6:30 p.m., after assisting the students of the university in kicking off the fall season.
Maddison Cervantes can be reached at mcervantes@sagebrush.unr.edu.
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