Hoptoberfest Celebrates Fall with Thrilling Activities and Concert
The annual Hoptoberfest, organized by the Hopkins Student Organization for Programming (HOP), took place from October 23 to 25, 2025, bringing a series of exciting fall-themed activities to students at the university. The event commenced with a vibrant Kickoff Fest, held on the Keyser and Wyman Quads, where students enjoyed a carnival atmosphere complete with free food and games.
The first day drew long lines of students eager to collect complimentary T-shirts and meal tickets outside Gilman Hall. Dining options included popular local vendors Ekiben and Nora’s Kabobs, which offered a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Additional snack tickets allowed students to indulge in pretzels, cupcakes, or ice cream, with the latter requiring a short walk beyond Shriver Hall.
As part of the carnival, an eye-catching orange-and-black balloon arch marked the entrance to a range of games. Students participated in activities such as sending toy lizards flying with a hammer and attempting to score baskets in a basketball hoop. While some students aimed for larger prizes like a Squishable, many opted for simpler building block sets.
In an email to The News-Letter, HOP described their activity selection process, stating, “Our activities list is decided by a group brainstorming session between the chairs and our committee.” They emphasized the importance of blending returning favorites with new attractions each year.
The following day featured a haunted house at the Ralph S. O’Connor Recreation Center, entirely student-run. Long queues formed as participants awaited their turn to enter, with screams from the interior echoing outside. Decorated with chilling props from horror films, the haunted house included volunteers dressed as various monsters who provided jump scares. Upon exiting, students were rewarded with free T-shirts and candy.
Freshman Amelia Joseph shared her experience with the haunted house, noting, “I’ve never been to a haunted house before, and a couple of friends wanted to go there, so I thought I’d tag along.” She appreciated the creativity displayed within the limited space.
The final day kicked off with a Farm Day, where students checked in to receive a green wristband and a snack ticket redeemable for fall treats such as candy apples, donuts, or apple pie, complemented by apple cider. Attractions included a stall for crafting friendship bracelets, a petting zoo with animals like bunnies and tortoises, and henna art. Students also had the opportunity to select their own pumpkins from a nearby patch.
Allison Farfan Martinez, a freshman attendee, expressed her enjoyment of the day’s activities, saying, “My favorite part was seeing all the animals or the henna! The bunnies were the cutest!” She suggested incorporating music into the event for added entertainment.
As evening approached, excitement built around the sold-out Hoptoberfest concert featuring popular artist Khalid. Students eagerly danced to the DJ’s selections while awaiting the performance, which commenced at approximately 21:00. Khalid captivated the crowd with a selection of his greatest hits, supported by a live band and backup dancers.
In a statement to The News-Letter, Liam Parker, Co-Chair of the Traditions Committee for HOP, detailed the months-long process of securing Khalid for the event. “Booking the artist was a process that took many months of labor and many different ideas of who we wanted,” he said. The positive response from students reaffirmed their commitment to providing quality events.
HOP also highlighted challenges faced in organizing Hoptoberfest, including the need for effective communication among staff and timely setup. They advised starting the planning process early to alleviate last-minute stress.
While Hoptoberfest has concluded, HOP is set to conclude its Halloween festivities with a costume competition at Levering Hall on October 31.
