On Friday, Feb. 6, Villanova University hosted its annual Winter Gala. The Connelly Center transformed into a glittering display, fitting for the theme of the year: “Sapphires and Silver.” From 8 p.m. to midnight, students danced, ate, mingled and celebrated with their friends.
The walls of the Connelly Center were draped in navy to create an entirely new atmosphere. The décor was subtle throughout the main body of the building but conveyed the elegance of the night very well. The dance floor, on the other hand, was all sparkles with a mirrored DJ booth and twinkling light fixtures.
While the gala was initially slow to fill up, particularly on the dance floor, after an hour or so, it was packed. The dance floor was also the best place to people watch. Everyone looked great in their best cocktail attire.
“I really enjoyed seeing my friends from all around campus come together to dance and have fun,” sophomore Anna Rupp shared. “It was my first time attending [the Winter Gala], but it definitely will not be my last.
This sentiment can always be found throughout the Connelly Center on the night of the Gala. Students who have overlooked the Gala in the past, or just completely forgotten about it, realize just how impressive and exciting this event can be.
“This year’s Winter Gala was my first time going, which is wild to admit as a senior,” senior Claire Gaza said. “I always assumed not many people attended, but I was genuinely surprised by how full Conn was.”
Another incentive to attend the Winter Gala year after year for many students is the food. The University makes the Gala feel like a classic cocktail party with stations peppered around the Connelly Center where students can grab small bites. This year, to add to the excitement, there was also a sushi bar, and the boba station made a return. If dancing wasn’t quite your thing, then these little pick-me-ups were the perfect fuel for exploring all of the Connelly Center as if it were a completely new place.
“The Gala has always been one of my favorite Villanova events,” junior Abby Contessa said. “The food was amazing and I had a great time dancing with my friends.”
The usual gambling tables were set up upstairs in the Art Gallery and the Commuter Lounge, where many students passed their time either playing the games or just chatting with friends in a marginally quieter area compared to the volume of the lower level.
“I had a lot of fun, which makes me wish I had gone in past years,” Gaza shared. “It’s bittersweet knowing this was both my first and last Gala.”
The night wrapped up with a slow clearing of the dance floor, last-minute pictures and fast food to-go boxes. As students exited the Connelly Center to dig through the seemingly endless racks of coats, hoping theirs hadn’t ended up on the ground, there was a deep sense of a night well-spent echoing through the emptying building.
“I’ve been to the Winter Gala multiple times, and it’s one of those events I always look forward to since it’s fun and a nice break from school,” junior Caitlyn Baker said.
The Gala is special for many reasons. It happens once a year and is a unique event tailored to Villanova students, which transforms one of the most beloved parts of our campus into something even more special for just this night. It is an important event whether you’re a first year with three more ahead of you, or a senior looking back on your final year.
