USI is represented well at Fall Fest

After 93 years, the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival continues to attract over 200,000 people, making it one of the largest street festivals in the United States.

And, this year is no different.

Fall Festival excitement begins at Franklin Street, but is evident throughout the city. As Carnival attractions move into the west side of Evansville, preparations have already begun for the week-long gala taking place October 6-11. Soon, Franklin Street will be filled with free entertainment, carnival attractions, amateur talent competitions, a huge parade and more than 126 food booths.

USI is represented heavily among those many food booths. From the Art Club, to the Varsity Club, to a returning participant, Sigma Tau Gamma, USI's non-profit organizations utilize Fall Fest for their yearlong fundraising efforts.

Chuck Armstrong, advisor of the USI Art Club, says this fundraiser is a huge contributor to the club's success throughout the year. "Proceeds from the booth fund scholarships, visiting artists, art club activities and support student travel," he said. "There are 30 to 40 students who work the booth, both [on Franklin Street] and back on-campus in prep, painting, and clean-up."

You can find the Art Club at booth number 38. More distinctly, you might recognize their bright yellow booth, featuring replications of famous works of art with hints of corn themes throughout. Of course, the Art Club is famous for their hot and steaming corn on the cob.

The USI Varsity Club can make anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000 from their delicious steak sandwiches. The fundraiser supports athletic scholarships for the Screaming Eagles. However, that's not the only reason members love to work their booth.

"The Fall Festival is my favorite fundraiser, because you can interact with the athletes working the booth. It's a blast," said Bob Werner, previous Varsity Club president.

The ladies of Delta Zeta can be found in a light-pink booth, number 70, located near the corner of Franklin Street and St. Joseph Avenue. A highlight of their food offerings includes cake balls from The Pacetre, a local bakery in Evansville owned by a Delta Zeta alumna.

The Fall Festival is typically Delta Zeta's only fundraiser for the year. They aim to raise enough funds for recruitment, philanthropy, delta zeta region day and conventions. It's also one of the most fun times of year for their members. 

Sigma Tau Gamma's booth serves Walkin' Stroms, a unique creation that includes stromboli meat and mozzarella cheese in a bag of Grippo's BBQ Chips. The Fraternity intends to donate 10 percent of profits to their national philanthropy, Special Olympics.

The returning group made their first appearance at the Fall Festival in 1972, before they were officially a Sig Tau chapter at USI (then ISUE). Their booth raised enough money in 1984 to build the first Fraternity chapter house on campus at 7601 Clarke Lane (the current USI Foundation office). After a 14-year absence, they were given word this past April that a spot opened up for their booth. The men of Sigma Tau Gamma have been working hard since April for the Fall Festival and the entire chapter is excited to be back!

If you are looking to take your lunch off campus, check out what our USI-represented booths have to offer.

Moving west to east down Franklin Street, you can find the following USI booths:

Booth 73 (Tau Kappa Epsilon): Grippos, stromboli, Ski

Booth 70 (Delta Zeta): cake balls, fried pickle spears, mozzarella sticks, jalapeño poppers, Coke and Pepsi products

Booth 64 (Phi Delta Theta): fire burger, hot dog, Phier burger

Booth 61 (Lamda Chi Alpha): Philly cheesesteaks, Pepsi products

Booth 104 (Alpha Sigma Alpha): chocolate covered strawberries, fruit haystacks

Booth 107 (USI Varsity Club): steak sandwiches

Booth 38 (USI Art Club): corn on the cob

Booth112-J (Sigma Tau Gamma): stromboli, "Walkin' Stroms", Arnold Palmers