Your comprehensive guide to Foxfield 2016

It’s the most wonderful time of the year

The big day is almost here! Foxfield, one of UVA’s longest-standing traditions, will be happening this Saturday – so now’s the time to take sure you’re ready to get decked out in your “preppiest” attire… and maybe see a horse or two while you’re there (not guaranteed, though).

For First Years who are still unsure as to how this whirlwind of a day is going to unfold (and for upperclassmen who may not quite remember the exact sequence of events that took place in years past), here is a rough timeline to help you out…

6:30am: RISE AND SHINE!!! You probably can’t recall the last time you woke up this early on a Saturday…but you throw the covers aside anyway because this is essentially as exciting as Christmas morning.

7am: By now, you should be in the midst of doing at least one of two very important things: getting dressed and EATING! You will NOT want to attempt to survive this day on an empty stomach. Mimosas alone are not enough, so at least try braving the Bodo’s line to make sure you have some sustenance to get you through the long haul ahead. (Rumor has it that Eddy’s is dishing out free pancakes starting at 6am!!)

Bless you, Eddy’s

That brings us to perhaps the most important part of Foxfield: the outfit. This is your quintessential preppy, southern UVA event and probably the only chance you’ll have to be head-to-toe in Lilly Pulitzer or Vineyard Vines without getting completely judged…so make the most of it!

Guys: It’s basically football game attire on steroids. Bring back the button-downs and bowties. Pastels are encouraged and appreciated. Seersucker is your middle name…at least for today.

Girls: May the best Lilly print win. With everyone around you prepped out to the max, don’t be afraid to stand out a little. Go big and bold, even if it means an obnoxiously neon pink or a bright orange paisley. And don’t forget to supplement the dress with a string of pearls and an oversized sunhat

(PSA: this is also a good way to avoid sunburn and/or sun stroke…it happens, people).

7:30am: Now that you’re ready to go, the drinking can officially commence (or maybe it already has…). It’s important to remember that Foxfield is a marathon, not a sprint, so if you’re starting early, take it nice and slow. You don’t want to be the one who pukes on the bus or has to leave the race after half an hour…

 9am: Your bus is leaving (unless you were planning on getting there by horse) and you definitely don’t want to miss it!! Make sure you’re in a comfy seat next to someone you don’t hate because the ride is likely going to last multiple hours. If you’re taking your sorority’s bus, get excited for drunken dancing and questionable music choices. Be prepared for all the delightful surprises Virginia weather has to offer – you could end up needing both sunscreen and rain boots, who really knows?

10am: You’ve finally (hopefully) arrived!! Has the race started yet? You probably have no idea, but that’s OK because it wasn’t your top priority anyway. It’s time to find your plot and prepare for the marathon of drinking to continue.

11am: You’ve been awake for about five hours now, so you’re probably hungry again. Time to pig out on potato chips and Cane’s chicken (drunk calories don’t count, right?!) and wash it down with some lukewarm Aristocrat…yummmm…

12pm: The sun is high in the sky and you’re on the move again. Whether you’re staying on your own plot or wandering off to find your friends, a great deal of drunken socializing is occurring. You might even be dancing on top of a truck.

1:30pm: If everything hasn’t already started to become a blur, it’s probably going to start now. Make sure you write down your plot number somewhere so you don’t get lost! Getting lost sucks.

2:30pm: Wait, was that a horse?!

3pm: It’s almost time to roll out…except you’ve lost all your friends and become severely dislocated from your plot. Good thing you’re stuck in a large field in the middle of nowhere with limited cell service.

3:30pm: By now you’ve hopefully made it back on the right bus (why do they all look the same?!) and are headed home…completely slumped. You’re probably either soaking wet or on the verge of getting sun poisoning. Your bowtie and/or sunhat is very, very crooked and your Lilly dress smells like beer…praise the Lord for dry cleaners!

4:30pm: If you made it home and are not napping right now, I don’t think you’re a real human being. Before you passed out, you probably stuffed your face with whatever food you could get your hands on. Hopefully you drank a little water as well so you won’t hate yourself too much in three hours.

6pm: The true test of strength is whether you will be able to rally and make it out tonight…

Happy Foxfielding!!!

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