Harvard celebrates 375th birthday
Get your crimson on – it’s Harvard University’s 375th birthday party tonight. The historic institution will, of course, be celebrating in style, with music, dancing, and cake for 5,000.
“We’ve never done anything like this,’’ said Tania deLuzuriaga, a school spokesman. “It really commences a year’s worth of events in the arts and academics to commemorate Harvard’s 375th anniversary.’’
Students will be treated to a historic dinner in their houses, including dishes like lamb leg, a grand sallat, and welsh rarebit, and then parade to Harvard Yard to join alumni, faculty, and staff for the rest of the celebration.
The Holden Choirs will perform Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra, and alumnus Yo-Yo Ma will perform as well. The festivities will also include a slide show documenting Harvard from inception to the present day.
Erica Zidel, a 2004 graduate of the college, is excited to partake in the festivities and to see some familiar faces.
“We just moved back to Boston,’’ she said. “It’s a great opportunity to run into people. … I have a lot of classmates in and around the Boston area.’’
She will also be bringing her 5-year-old son, who loves visiting Harvard, and may even be a student there someday as well.
“No pressure, but I wouldn’t be upset if he did [go to Harvard],’’ she said.
Attendees will also be treated to – what else? – red velvet cake. The 15-foot-by-18 foot cake is expected to feed 5,000 and is being made by Joanne Chang, an alum, and owner of Flour bakery. After cake, the Harvard community is invited to dance on a 3,000-foot dance floor in the middle of Harvard Yard.
The event will go on, rain or shine. The celebration is free of charge, but those attending must have an official form of Harvard identification to be allowed in.
“The whole Harvard family is invited,’’ deLuzuriaga said.
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