On Sunday, October 11, I attended Fred Fest at the Lakeside Oasis with my family. This was a one-time event that was a part of University Weekend, hosted by the Office of Student Development. The event ran from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

It was sunny, warm, and overall a great day to spend at the lake. The DJ was playing fun and upbeat music that put everyone in a good mood. Soft pretzel sticks were served in abundance and ice-cold beverages were provided as a delicious snack. There were many volunteers around to help out or answer questions.

The highlight of the event for me was renting a canoe with my little sister. The rental was free of charge, so I did not hesitate to take advantage of it. The canoe allowed my sister and me to see the lake from a completely different perspective. The views are even more amazing from the middle of the lake than from the shorelines. I was also able to get a feel for how deep the lake really is, which, is not very deep at all. Although I could have spent a good part of the day out on the lake, my time was limited to just thirty minutes.

Overall, Fred Fest was a great success. Besides the free drinks and food, I was able to take away the valuable experience of canoeing across Lake Fred with my sister. The event allowed me to escape the college mindset for a moment and refresh my thinking. I would like to see similar events in the future. Stockton has access to the beautiful Lake Fred and should really find more ways to incorporate the lake into fun events for students.