Literally Lit
Monday, July 21st, 2025
STILT FIELD circa 8:30pm—The Session C Costume Dance Party has mercifully landed on the coolest evening of the summer so far. Outkast’s “Hey Ya” blares out of the Big Top’s sound system as the sky wanes a deeper blue. Costumed campers and counselors are spread all over the Big Top and the adjacent Stilt Field, dancing, chatting, juggling, and otherwise milling about. The song switches to Chappel Roan’s “Hot To Go”, prompting the majority of the people in the Stilt Field to rush into the Big Top. As the chorus comes around the throng moves in cult-like unison, performing the ritual arm movements.
Tonight’s crowd is a festive assortment of everything the Costume Barn has to offer: dresses, jumpsuits, blazers, gowns, vests, hats, wigs, robes, capes, trench coats, scarves, masks, face paint, wings, horns, ears, claws, rainbows, animal print, plaid, polka dots, stripes, checkers, sequins, lamé, corduroy, fleece, leather, denim, spandex, glasses, ties, clown shoes, pom-poms, gorilla suits, et cetera.
“Tonight is just a bunch of people dancing and having fun together,” says Lex, 10, Yellow Tipi. “I’m dressed as Mal from Descendents. Her character starts out bad, but then helps the good guys in the end. I just saw this dress in the Costume Barn, and it fit. The Dance Party is loud and fun as a really good party. Camp is amazing!”
“We’re doing a whole Hundred Acre Wood group costume,” says Teen Staff Sha’Him, dressed as Winnie the Pooh. “Nobody else wanted to be Winnie, so I guess I kinda took one for the team. Winnie the Pooh is a chiller. Sometimes you just gotta stop and find something good to eat.”
“I was Jason Mendoza from The Good Place, but I took it off so I could do more dance moves,” says Ripley, almost 12, Orange Tipi, instantly dropping down into the splits. “I do hip-hop and gymnastics. This party is lit, literally! There’s little lights all over the stilt poles. Everyone is screaming and dancing their butts off!”
“There was a group of us dressed up as bros, but now I’m the only bro left,” says Mia, 10, Orange Tipi. “To be a bro you need a beanie, some sort of vibey T-shirt, and basketball shorts. Then you just dab your friends up, fist bumps, high-fives, the whole thing. It’s an exercise in boyishness.”
“The boys are dancing in dresses!” exclaims Riley, relaying a new development from the Big Top.
“The Dance Party is super fun, funner than last year” continues Mia. “Everybody is dancing. I don’t have a go-to dance move. Honestly, we’ve just been jumping up and down.”
“I’m a person from Titanic; it’s my favorite movie besides Hamilton,” says Charlly, 10, Gold Tipi. “Clothes from that time are like fancy, long, old dresses, and for the boys it’s tuxedos and little caps. Everybody today just wears baggy gray sweatpants—very boring! The Dance Party is really fun, but I’m not very good at dancing. Camp is one of my favorite places in the world, one of the top two!”
Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor
