Saturday marks the return of the B1 Block Party, which will be held at 5 p.m. in the Legend's parking lot and star Guster and Mayer Hawthorne, among others.
The event was originally conceived after construction cancelled the annual student-run concert, "The Show."
"The Show didn't have a place to go, and there really wasn't anything going on at the beginning of the year last year so Legend's decided to have it in the parking lot," said Aaron Perri, general manager of Legends. "I don't think it's necessarily replaced The Show."
The Block Party may not have officially replaced The Show, but it drew a larger crowd last year than the annual show ever did.
"It was a wild success last year. We had 5,000 people; it was bigger than The Show ever was. Even with five ticket booths, we couldn't keep up with the line," Perri said. "We couldn't have been more pleased ... People just really embraced it."
While the Block Party is, in part, a concert, Perri reminds students that the Block Party is unlike The Show in that it is about more than the music. He said he hopes students will take advantage of all it has to offer this year.
"I feel like last year people kind of thought of it just as a concert and didn't realize there was a lot more going on," he said. "The idea behind it is that it's really three attractions in one: the food, the festivities, the music. We actually have free food from 5 to 7 p.m., so that's something new from last year."
Additional festivities include a rock wall, corn hole and a Eurobungy, which is similar to a trampoline with harnesses. There will also be a 21-and-over beer garden and food from Chick-fil-A, Papa Murphy's and Jimmy John's.
While last year's show was a fantastic success, Perri said he hopes this year's improved Party will be an even bigger hit.
"Five thousand's a great number, and if we get to 5,000 again it really feels packed there in the parking lot, but we have room for every student," he said. "We can accommodate about 8,000 out there."
With such a large crowd, Perri advises students to get tickets in advance to avoid long lines. This year, tickets can be purchased for 10 dollars online, at the LaFortune Student Center box office and at the entrance to the Block Party.
"The tickets are only 10 bucks. We really try to keep prices down, even though the concert costs more," Perri said. "Students should know if they buy tickets in advance, it will really save them some time."
Also returning is the B1 After Party, which sold out last year. DJ Whoo Kid, the DJ for 50 Cent, will be providing the after show entertainment.
"The Block Party is a fantastic event ... Legend's is really proud to be able to present this and put it out there," Perri said. "We hope this year students embrace it even more."
