NOTE: See Vintage Days schedule at www.FresnoStateNews.com or hear the recording at (559) 278- 4000.
With spring break behind them, Fresno State students are now gearing up for some serious fun “Under the Vintage Sun” this week.
The community is invited to come out to the campus for Vintage Days 2004 on Thursday, April 15 to 18 as one of the Central Valley’s biggest multi-day events gets underway.
The 29th annual spring festival features a crafts fair, food booths and student activities such as a battle of the bands as well as rides and entertainment for children.
Presented by the Vintage Days Committee — a subcommittee within the Student Activities and Leadership Development office in the Student Affairs division — the four-day event attracts more than 50,000 people from Fresno and the surrounding communities to the Fresno State campus.
The Staff Assembly Pancake Breakfast will kick off the spring celebration on Thursday (April 15) from 7 to 10 a.m. in the Free Speech Area at Fresno State.
Warm pancakes with sausages will be cooked and served by President John D. Welty and other campus administrators and coaches including Pat Hill, Ray Lopes, Lindy Vivas and Dennis DeLiddo as well as other area dignitaries and celebrities (details to come).
Breakfast tickets are $5 per person. For tickets, contact Heather San Julian at 8-6017 or heathersjcsufresno.edu or visit the Staff Assembly Web site.
Following the breakfast, Opening Ceremonies from noon to 1 p.m. will include a pizza-eating contest
followed by Casino Night at 7 p.m. in the University Student Union complete with a karaoke contest.
On Friday, the Boomtown Carnival, Crafts Faire, Scavenger Hunt and Kid’s Day opens from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and runs Saturday and Sunday as well (closing on Sunday at 5 p.m.).
The Crafts Faire features approximately 160 vendors selling their hand-made goods and 35 Fresno State clubs and organizations selling food items from tri-tip sandwiches, fajitas, beerocks, fruit bowls and much more.
The popular Kid’s Day — which features arts and crafts, pony rides, petting zoo, rides and inflatable attractions — is free on Friday but $1 wristbands will be required on Saturday and Sunday.
Live bands will perform on the Concert Stage on Keats Avenue south of the Music Building from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Entertainment also will be presented at the Crafts Faire Stage on Maple Mall (south of the Satellite Student Union where, on Saturday, live bands and performances will start at 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Sunday, Crafts Faire entertainment ends at 3 p.m.
The Fresno State Alumni Association “Suds and Grub” Pavilion will be open Boomtown Carnival hours Friday through Sunday featuring tri-tip sandwiches, soft drinks and beer (age 21 and over).
The Pavilion will be in a new spot this year near the Crafts Faire on Maple Mall, next to the Vintage Days Hospitality Booth. (See link to photo of Vintage Days committee at www.FresnoStateNews.com).
Salsa Night is Friday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Satellite Student Union. General admission is $7 but free for Fresno State students.
Salsa Lessons will be provided from 8 to 9 p.m. by Carlos Cordona and Miguel & Rina. from Candela Pura in Los Angeles, followed by Salsa Dancing from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. with music from Starline’s DJ, Ruben “Salsabor” DeSousa.
On Saturday, the Battle of the Bands and Battle of the M.C.’s Competition will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. in the Satellite Student Union. Admission is $5 students and $7 general.
The event features about eight bands jamming to be crowned the best local rock band in Fresno. New this year is the MC Battle, which is a Hip Hop free-style competition between rappers who can come up with the most creative lyrical poetry.
Prizes for both competitions consist of complimentary recording studio time, complimentary CD duplication and more.
On Sunday, Closing Ceremonies will be held at 3 p.m. on the Crafts Faire Stage.
For more information about Vintage Days, call (559) 278-2741 or the Fresno State Info hotline at 278¬4000 to hear the schedule.
See links to the Vintage Days Web site at www.FresnoStateNews.com. See photos from last year at www.FresnoStateNews.com’s Vintage Days 2003 breakfast Web page and the Staff Assembly Web site’s Pancake Page.
