Though the process of organizing Palousafest has been a wild one, University of Idaho senior Shalonia Rosen said being student coordinator for the event has been a fun and interesting challenge.
“Despite the craziness, it’s been a wonderful learning experience,” Rosen said. “I am excited to see the result of all the work I put in this summer.”
Her hard work will come to fruition Saturday starting at 5:30 p.m. The Palousafest is an annual event hosted by UI’s Department of Student Involvement that will feature booths from more than 200 university and community organizations along 6th Street.
There will also be a handful of free activities on both the Theophilus Tower and Recreation Center lawns, including gladiator jousting, an inflatable bucking bull and two zip lines.
Nicholas Eastman-Pratt | Argonaut
Students congregate on 6th street to learn about over 200 student organizations at the University of Idaho.
To top it all off, Palousafest concludes with live music starting at 7:30 p.m. This year features two headliners — “America’s Got Talent” runner-up Cas Haley, who Rosen described as a “rock-reggae” artist, and California natives Jet West, who Rosen said have a “beach-rock” sound. Vandal Entertainment partnered with the Department of Student Involvement to provide the entertainment.
Junior Kieran Dong attended Palousafest both her freshman and sophomore years and said she is excited to attend another — this time working at a booth in the street fair. Whether she will table for the “Humans vs. Zombies” club or UI’s Science Outreach program, she has yet to decide. But about one thing Kieran is sure — Palousafest is worth checking out.
“It’s the one event everyone should go to,” Dong said. “I was amazed at how much stuff there was, and how much free stuff you can get.”
She said that out of all of UI’s events, Palousafest best displays the variety that graces both UI’s campus and the surrounding community. Whether in regard to campus clubs or Moscow’s plethora of organizations, Dong said Palousafest is the one best place for students to find people who are interested in the same fields and activities they are. Even further, she said an organization’s attendance at Palousafest signifies an active club with members who had the wherewithal to call Student Involvement and reserve a table.
“The (organizations at Palousafest) are actually active. They have their stuff together,” Dong said. “These are people who really care.”
Rosen knows firsthand how helpful Palousafest can be for networking. She learned about the Palouse-Clearwater Institute at last year’s Palousafest and recently began collaborating with the organization to host a production of “References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot” next week. As a theater major, Rosen said this connection has started a working relationship that she said every student can find at Palousafest.
“Students don’t know what Moscow offers,” Rosen said. “(Palousafest) is a nice way to see what we have and what UI provides for our students.”
Rosen said that this is the Department of Student Involvement’s way of welcoming students back to campus, as well as laying out the welcome mat for those new to Moscow and UI.
“Who doesn’t want to zip line and listen to a band before classes start?” Rosen said. “This is our way of saying, ‘Let’s start this year off right.’”
Lyndsie Kiebert
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