While some on campus may be planning a trip to the Big Easy, or ordering a King Cake for next Tuesday’s Mardi Gras, the member departments of Campus Services are busy putting the finishing touches on their own Mardi Gras tradition: the Campus Services Loves Students Carnivale.

The Carnivale, now in its third year, is Campus Services’ annual student appreciation carnival held on Mardi Gras.

“Just in case students forget, we like to remind them how much we love them,” said organizer Melissa Moore, director of communications for Campus Services.  “Carnivale is also a chance for students to learn some things they didn’t know about the Campus Services departments and everything we do for the students of Georgia Tech.”

For example, Campus Services recently expanded to include the Campus Recreation Center (CRC) as part of the new Center for Campus Community Health and Wellbeing. The CRC joins the BuzzCard Center, Dining Services, Georgia Tech Bookstore, Health Promotion, Housing, Parking & Transportation Services, Stamps Health Services, and the Student Center for this year’s event, where each department will host a carnival game complete with swag for students to snag.

“Campus Services feels that the best way to show students how much we care is with free food, free goodies, and a chance to win big prizes,” Moore adds. This year those prizes include an iPad, $1,000 rent reduction for on-campus residents, BuzzCard deposits of up to $100, and $100 off an annual parking permit. There will also be popcorn, T-shirts, chair massages, and live music from former Voice contestant Chris Cauley — all for free. And, true to Mardi Gras, one lucky student will take home a King Cake.

The 2015 Campus Services Loves Students Carnivale is next Tuesday, Feb. 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Center Commons. Students are encouraged to bring their BuzzCards to enter to win grand prizes. Stop by Carnivale to learn more about how much Campus Services Loves Students — and “laissez les bons temps rouler.”