Loyolapalooza 2010
On April 25th, 2010, Loyolapalooza was held in Reitz Arena at 3p.m. at Loyola University. Filled with fun rides, delicious food, and friends, Loyolapalooza is one last hurrah for students before a chaotic week of final exams.
Loyolapalooza is opened free of charge to faculty and staff of Loyola University, students, their families, friends, siblings, and other members of the Baltimore community. In years past, attendees have gathered on the quad to bask in the sun and dance to whatever musical guest Loyola has scheduled to play. This year was a little different. Rainy weather was predicted for the afternoon Loyolapalooza was supposed to occur, so the Student Government Association made the executive decision to move it inside.
“Loyola would have had a much better turnout if it had been outside,” says sophomore Kristen Lipari about the significant lack of attendees. However, students still made the best of it.
Signs advertising Loyolapalooza led students through the College Center and eventually up the stars to Reitz Arena. There was an array of food available for students to eat right when they walk in, with choices like hotdogs, burgers and veggie burgers, pasta salad and various sodas. “Cotton candy is always one of my most exciting things to go to do,” Lipari says grinning about waiting in the never-ending line at Loyolapalooza for her favorite snack. After students were done eating, they had their choice of activities to take part in, such as get their faces painted or jump on the moon bounce. The most popular ride seemed to be the Round-Up, a circular amusement park ride that spins so fast, riders are pushed forcefully up against the wall and are unable to move.
The Clearspring Band was the first musical act to play to Loyolapalooza. The band is made up of seniors Christian Ventimiglia, Chas Mayer, Tim Williams, Chris Dunn, and Jonathan Khouri. Ventimiglia provides the lead vocals and plays guitar, with Mayer on guitar as well, Williams on bass, Dunn on drums and Khouri on keyboard. The seniors had won Battle of the Bands earlier in the year. The Barefoot Truth, an indie band from Connecticut, opened for Eric Hutchinson, Loyolapalooza’s main performer, later at 9.p.m.
"Eric Hutchinson was a one of a kind experience," says sophomore Anna Dire with a smile. "He was not only able to entertain the audience with his songs, he allowed the audience to feel like they were part of the performance."
Unfortunately not all of the student body who went to Loyolapalooza this year thoroughly enjoyed it. “It felt like an indoor playground,” says sophomore Carson Coyle about Loyolapalooza overall. “This year seemed like it was geared more to teachers and their kids, not to college students.”
Still, this family-friendly aspect of Loyolapalooza is one that the Loyola community takes pride in. Even in the rain, Loyolapalooza still shines for the majority of students.
Below are two video interviews of sophomores who attended Loyolapalooza. Kristen Lipari focuses more on her excitement for Eric Hutchinson while Ericka Kirk praises the Round-Up as the highlight of her experience.
Photos by Anna Idler
