Mayfest

Heating up a wintry MayFest
By Joel Raneri
May 4, 2012 - 8:24am
Review: Weather doesn't stop students from dancing, partying during a cold, snowy MayFest celebration.

The cold weather and occasional snow wasn't enough to scare away the Syracuse University students looking for free food, drinks and music at Walnut Park for University Union's annual MayFest celebration Friday.

And, if you weren’t expecting to see Tigger and Elmo dancing on stage dressed as Scoop Jardine and Kris Joseph, you were in for quite a surprise.

Bass drops fuel energetic Block Party
By Tom Charles
April 28, 2012 - 2:18pm
Review: Kaskade's live electro-house set entertains more than 5,000 students in the Carrier Dome Friday night.

Friday’s diverse Block Party lineup kept fans of all sorts engaged in the show from start to finish in the Carrier Dome.

The new kids on the Block Party
By Caitlin Francis
April 26, 2012 - 7:44pm
After weeks of criticism from students, up-and-coming house DJ Kaskade, alt-rockers Cold War Kids and Phantogram are set to entertain thousands in the Carrier Dome.

Is anyone going to Block Party this year?  That might be a question you hear around campus lately.

After University Union announced last month Block Party 2012 would feature DJ Kaskade and alt-rock act Cold War Kids, some students quickly vocalized their displeasure for the choices. 

Past Block Parties brought acts such as Kid Cudi, Nas, Kanye West and N.E.R.D., so expectations for big name artists this year were high again. 

Kaskade, Cold War Kids to play Block Party 2012
By Chris Ballard
March 26, 2012 - 10:33pm
Concert to pair unique mix of dance, soulful rock tunes.

House music DJ Kaskade and indie rockers Cold War Kids, along with one more act to be announced, will perform at this year's Block Party, University Union said Monday.

Mayfest 2012 acts announced
By Chris Ballard
March 25, 2012 - 9:54pm
Artists Outasight, Timeflies, AER, 5 & A Dime to perform Mayfest 2012.

Indie-pop influenced dance artist Outasight, Brooklyn dub-rap duo Timeflies, Syracuse University-based acoustic jam-rap fusers AER and mashup-dubstep artist 5 & A Dime will perform at Mayfest 2012, University Union announced Sunday night.

Walnut hosts Mayfest festivities for second year
By Brittany Fuino
April 28, 2011 - 11:25pm
It was Euclid Avenue vs. Walnut Park, Round 2.

It is no myth that if you advertise anything as free, college students will come running. Mayfest 2011 was no exception.

Free chicken kabobs, corn dogs, cotton candy and tornadoes — not to mention free beer for  those 21 and older — had Syracuse University students hiking on down to Walnut Park Friday to get in on the good grub.

Mayfest according to Joe Blum
By Joe Blum
May 5, 2010 - 3:42pm
While still stunned that SU lets students take the day off to party, Joe finds more than just free beer to like about the controversial celebration.

During my first year of graduate school in 2008, I kept hearing about this infamous  Mayfest. I wasn't quite sure what to make of it.

Mayfest according to Joe Blum
By Erica Sanderson
May 1, 2010 - 1:31pm
Joe Blum goes behind the beer and controversy to show what the new SU-sponsored block party is really like.

Want to know what Mayfest is really like? Well, wonder no more. Joe Blum and his trustworthy handheld camcorder take you inside the controversial celebration. With plenty of colorful characters, Capri Sun and profanity-riddled rants, Mayfest is not your ordinary school day.

Blum. Beer. Bedlam. Need we say more?

Drake defies doctor's orders, rocks Block Party 2010
By Didier Morais
May 1, 2010 - 2:02am
Making Block Party history, headliner Drake performed at the Dome Friday for a record-breaking 9,500+.

Leading up to Block Party this week, campus was buzzing with several questions about the status of Drake’s voice. After canceling a show at University of Massachusetts-Lowell Wednesday due to a vocal problem, the Toronto native’s situation dominated conversations around campus.

But once Drake took the stage in the Carrier Dome, he wasted little time easing the audience’s concerns.

“The doctor told me to take three days off,” Drake said while sipping on some water. “But I couldn’t do that to my family at Syracuse.”

Walnut Park wins Mayfest, but Euclid Ave. survives
By Christine Mehta
April 30, 2010 - 9:08pm
With more than 3,000 in attendance, the new Mayfest in Walnut Park prevailed, but the Euclid Avenue party lingers on.

Free food and free beer was too much for students to resist during this year’s Mayfest celebration.  

More than 3,000 students showed up in Walnut Park to take advantage of the Syracuse University sponsored Mayfest party on Friday afternoon.  Euclid Avenue, in contrast, remained eerily quiet as a few students lounged outside their houses, quietly playing music, watching Syracuse City Police drive by.