The Sun God Festival is tomorrow! This year’s bash comes in the wake of a festival overhaul, the likes of which students were largely unhappy with. But the A.S. Concerts and Events Office has made some much-needed tweaks ‘mdash; like getting rid of that damned be-there-by-7-p.m. requirement and replacing it with all-day in-and-out privileges. And booking a lineup that takes a grand step toward the pages of Sun God lore, with an all-around increase in entertainment and, acts that students can get excited about. Not only did Concerts and Events prepare what will surely be the best dance party RIMAC Field has seen in far too long, the office lovingly ‘mdash; or perhaps just fearing riots ‘mdash; has transformed the weeks leading up to this Friday into a snowballing countdown party.
By calling upon the new A.S. Graphic Studio and social-networking Web site Twitter to bring momentum to the baby Sun God campaign, and planning a week of Price Center nooner shows, Concerts and Events has crafted an unprecedented prefestival buzz. And its promise is one that the office looks to follow through on, collaborating with the Loft for fixtures like a cupcake tree, film tent and free photobooth, and with the Music Saves Lives group to set up a Motion City Soundtrack meet-and-greet in exchange for Wednesday’s blood drive. Concerts and Events has also embraced the student-fostered tradition of wearing a costume to campus the day of Sun God; there will be a ‘secret spotter’ scanning the crowd, and those with the best outfit will be invited to dance on stage with Girl Talk.
But the changes could also mean some kinks. Festival wristbands (which will be made of fabric and ooze with hipstery slick-designed hipness) will be passed out all day at the tennis courts on Ridge Walk. And while Associate Vice President of Concerts and Events Garrett Berg is confident that the 24-lane setup will be prepped to handle any line with robotic efficiency, students can believe it when they see it. With a capacity of about 20,000, the field admittedly isn’t big enough for everyone and guest tickets sold out on Tuesday. So students who have their heart set on seeing N.E.R.D and Girl Talk should hit up the wristband station early, just in case.
The Coachella-esque Bring Your Own Bottle campaign could pose another problem for parched concertgoers. Berg’s office is making a noble effort to go green and stay in line with the council’s recent plastic-bottle-banning resolution, but this will demand that students do their part.
Plan ahead and bring your own bottle ‘mdash; an empty one, yeah security will be checking ‘mdash; for free fill-ups, or be ready to pay $2 for some bottled hydration. But don’t worry; as a last resort the festival’s medical tents will have plenty of free water to go around if you find yourself feeling faint and without a canteen.
While you’re planning ahead, keep in mind that the smartest kind of debauchery is best. So stay hydrated, and if you’re stopped by a cop be cooperative and calm ‘mdash; remember that once you’ve adequately identified yourself, you have the right to remain silent. When the clock strikes midnight and it comes time to relocate to the afterparty, shuttles will be running until 1 a.m. and A.S. Safe Ride is always an option.
Ultimately though, the Sun God Festival is about campus community and collegiate camaraderie, not what’s planned for RIMAC Field. The Student Center will be just as bumping if not more so, with a block party centered around KSDT Radio’s Shun God. I-House is just waiting to become a stretch of Euro-dance-fueled mini parties. And the Koala’s annual Sun God Lawn Slip-N-Slide (plus a soap-foamed Price Center fountain, if administrators don’t put the kibosh on that tradition like they did last year) are reason enough to incorporate bathing gear into your dance costume.
Get ready ‘mdash; it’s going to be epic.