The Memorial Union’s famous sunburst chairs returned to the union terrace Wednesday, with a celebration set to signal the start of the Union’s outdoor season for 3 p.m. Friday.
“After a long Wisconsin winter, the return of Terrace season feels like the return of summer, no matter the weather,” Wisconsin Union spokesperson Shauna Breneman told The Daily Cardinal in a statement.
First appearing in the 1920s, the Memorial Union terrace chairs have a long history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The iconic sunburst chair design was introduced in 1981 and has been in use ever since.
“The Terrace is a tradition that has brought people together for shared experiences for almost 100 years, whether they’re students, staff, alumni or visitors. A sense of community, rooted in nearly a century of history, is part of what makes this time and this space so meaningful,” Breneman said.
The Union’s terrace serves as a popular gathering space, hosting community events such as movie showings, arts projects and concerts.
Terrace season typically begins in mid-April and lasts until late October. Many look forward to the chairs’ return every year as a mark of the end of winter and the return of a common gathering spot.
“I think the tradition of bringing out the chairs is so important, because it’s like the light at the end of the tunnel,” Wisconsin Union President and UW-Madison student Adeline Wood told the Cardinal in a statement. “For those of us on campus, the semester is winding down, the weather is starting to warm up, and the Terrace gives us the opportunity to slow down a bit, sit outside and enjoy the weather, and maybe even get together with some friends to grab a bite to eat.”
The Union’s Terrace Chair Return Party will feature terrace-themed watercolor painting, a concert from DJ Margeaux, a fish fry, lawn games and the reopening of the terrace’s Brat Stand. The Union will also be giving away free brats to UW-Madison students, faculty and staff.
Staff writer
