On Thursday, April 25, students gathered on the Smith College Quadrangle for the 34th Annual Celebrations.
The event began in 1991 as a candlelight vigil in response to an uptick in homophobic and transphobic graffiti and sentiment on campus. Over the years, it has evolved into a celebration of queer love and acceptance.
“Look what we can do now in spite of all of that,” said organizing committee member Alex Francesconi ’24.
The steps of Wilson House were graced with performances by residents of Smith’s Garden and Paradise neighborhoods, student acapella groups, student dance groups, student poets and more.
King House, Wilson House, Smoovez and Lena X and Celebrations Dance Company delivered some of the most memorable moments of the night and were met with abundant applause. One student poet shared a poem they asked to be kept private that deeply moved the audience.
The themes of Celebrations performances now fall under the following: love, sex, remembrance, tradition and expression. In many dance routines, performers ended wearing fewer articles of clothing than when they began.
On performing in King House’s dance as a senior, Francesconi said, “I felt like I’d reached my peak.”
This year’s turnout was overwhelming.
“I feel like other than convocation, there aren’t a lot of times I look around and there’s a crowd of Smithies,” said Francesconi, “I like how it’s freeform; we’re not in rows. You bring a blanket, I’ll save you a seat, I love that kind of thing.”
Francesconi also shouted out fellow organizers, including fellow seniors Abby Botta ’24 and Drew Rivera ’24, microphone movers, performers and MCs. Their collaborative effort made the event special.
“It’s my favorite Smith tradition,” said Francesconi with a smile.
Celebrations aims to be relevant to the Smith community. Each year, there is typically a specific social justice topic highlighted by MCs and performers. In previous years, some focuses have been reproductive rights, trans rights and more. This year the focus was on Palestine.
Smith’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine carried a banner across the Wilson Steps and led the vast crowd in a few rounds of pro-Palestine chants.
Celebrations is now cemented as a part of Smith’s history. Many Smithies, like Francesconi, consider it their favorite tradition.
Some of the event’s organizing is done through a local third-party group called Down Right Productions, which other organizations like Smith’s WOZQ Radio also utilize. Francesconi remembers communicating with them to get the lighting and sound up and running for the event. More than that, his two points of contact at Down Right are Smith alumni who recall performing in and experiencing Celebrations during their time here.
The historically somber, commemorative tone of Celebrations that alumni may have experienced is now mixed with something more. The tradition celebrates love in all its forms and how it perseveres at Smith.
