The Mid-South Fair is nine days away, but faculty and staff will get an early start at stuffing down carnival food and hitching rides on the Rebellion at The U of M Family Night at Libertyland.
Everlena Smith, alumni and development administrative secretary, is a regular at the family night.
“I’ve been at The University for 18 years and I’ve been at least 10 or 12 times,” Smith said. “Either I’ve been taking children or grandchildren.”
Smith missed one year because of weather conditions.
“I just didn’t want to get out in that rain,” Smith said.
Friday, Libertyland will be filled with U of M employees. The event takes place at 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
The Family Night offers faculty and staff a chance to drop their titles and get to know each other outside of the workforce said Frankie Perry, McWherter Library office associate.
“It gives you the opportunity to let your hair down and gives people a chance to see another side of you,” Perry said. “It eases the tension.”
Relatives and friends are encouraged to attend the event, said Margie Williamson, employment and employee relations manager.
The rides, parking and admission is free. Employees are to pay for their food.
Cheeseburger pizza, barbeque nachos and pronto pups are some of the foods offered at Libertyland concessions, but Smith said she fancies sweets.
“When I go, I eat a lot of course,” Smith said. “My favorite thing to do is eat funnel cakes and I just stand back and watch my children enjoy themselves.”
Unlike previous years when there was an 8 to 10 ticket limit for employees, as long as the amount of guests is of a reasonable number and an employee accompanies them, they are welcomed, Williamson said.
“We’re very flexible with the number of tickets, but if someone comes with a bus load of people we may have to draw some restrictions on that,” Williamson said with a chuckle.
