250th events to end on Wed.

The party's just about over. About six months after former President Ronald Reagan spoke on campus and students celebrated Benjamin Franklin's Birthday in a bash on College Green, the University will end its 250th anniversary celebration next week. The party officially concludes next Wednesday, with a "Winter Holiday Festival on the Green," that will feature performing arts groups, hot food, and hand-made crafts. And although the festival takes place the day before final exams begin, 250th Director Clare Wofford said she hopes that students will take time out from their studies to relax and have fun. "We're hoping that a lot of students will see this as a nice break to take from studying," Wofford said. "I mean, you can't study continuously." "I hope the students will say that they've really enjoyed the 250th celebration," said College senior Roslyn Evans, a member of the student committee planning the event. "And I also hope that it'll be a stress reliever before finals." Another scheduled event will be the arrival of President Sheldon Hackney in a horse-drawn carriage with University founder Ben Franklin, played by actor Ralph Archbald, at his side. Last January, a similar proceeding was staged to begin the University's celebration. According to Wofford, warm food and drinks, such as roasted chestnuts, hot chocolate and apple cider, will be abundant for students to sample. The festival will also include performances by a number of the University's performing arts groups, including Counterparts, Pennsylvania 6-5000 and the Penn Band. And in the the spirit of the holiday season, festival organizers are giving students a chance to help Philadelphia families. Participants in the festival are encouraged to bring a small gift, which will be placed on a large sleigh and donated to an area family. The 250th anniversary celebration, which began last January, has featured lectures by distinguished scholars, student parties, and a host of other entertaining and educational events. And while there have been problems along the way, the committee is thrilled with the success of the year's celebration. "We've had a year which was beyond our expectations," said Wofford. "Even the weather cooperated. Basically, there aren't many universities in the world which can put on a show like Penn."

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