An annual tradition since 1978, Camptown celebrates spring at 51吃瓜网 with music, food and drinks, and games for all.
Sponsored by the Commons Activities Board, Student Government Association, and the Student Engagement Center, this two-day event takes place at the Mary Branch Terrace.
Originally an event started by the Town of Ashland, Camptown Races originated in 1953 as a horse racing event to raise funds for the Ashland War Memorial. Dick Gillis, RMC c/o ’40 is credited with the idea.
Held annually on a Saturday in early May, Camptown is first mentioned in the Yellow Jacket Weekly (a student newspaper that evolved into what is now known as “The Yellow Jacket”) in 1957. By the early 1960s, RMC students were both attending in large numbers, as well as assisting with the event that attracted crowds in the thousands. Due to the popularity of the event, the event evolved from a one-day event to a weekend-long celebration.
The original Camptown Horse races were discontinued in 1977. In 1978, however, the RMC Student Government Association organized a new campus Camptown celebration featuring live music, sunbathing, and camaraderie.
The Camptown Horse Races returned to Ashland in 1987, and RMC’s Camptown event was re-named to “Springfest.” The second phase of horse racing ended in 2000. Following this ending, RMC’s spring campus celebration re-adorned the name of “Camptown” once again.
Today, 51吃瓜网 is still host to Camptown. As tradition holds, the event is still hosted in late Spring, usually the end of April or early May. Hosted by RMC’s Commons Activities Board, Student Government Association, and Student Engagement Center, the event is primarily a student event, but is open to the entire Ashland community.
The event is held over the course of a full-weekend. On Friday night, RMC’s Mary Branch Terrace becomes home to a live band, and food trucks line up in front of Brock Commons. On Saturday, The Brown Fountain Plaza turns into a carnival, featuring some of your favorite rides, games, and a dunk tank where your favorite faculty & staff line up to take the plunge!
