An opening day barbecue, campus pancake breakfast and visit by Air America talk show host Stephanie Miller, combined with a solid line up of local musicians, are some of the highlights of the 2006 Vintage Days that begin Thursday, April 20, at California State University, Fresno.

“Out of This World” is the theme of this year’s edition of the annual spring festival that attracts more than 50,000 people to the campus for social, cultural and recreational activities. Traditional popular public events such as the Boomtown Carnival, Crafts Faire and Kids Zone begin Friday.

Recent rain means some of the attractions will be moved from the Maple Mall and will result in some street closures. Keats Avenue from Maple Avenue west to the Music Building loading dock will be closed Friday through Sunday to hold some of the heavy exhibits. San Ramon Avenue just west of Maple will be reduced to one lane on Saturday. University Police traffic operations officers will direct traffic as needed.

The event, presented by the Fresno State Vintage Days Committee of the Student Activities and Leadership Development Office in the Division of Student Affairs, begins for the campus community at 7 a.m. Thursday with the Staff Assembly Pancake Breakfast for employees, students and guests.

President John D. Welty, Athletics Director Thomas Boeh and Bulldog coaches Pat Hill (football), Steve Cleveland (men’s basketball) and Angie Cates (women’s golf) will lead the contingent of celebrity chefs who will flip hotcakes. Other head coaches scheduled as “Vintage Days flippers” are Adrian Wiggins (women’s basketball), Ruben Nieves (volleyball), Mike Batesole (baseball) and Mike Watney (golf).

Former major league pitcher and alumnus Bobby Jones (New York Mets, San Diego Padres), now a Bulldogs assistant baseball coach, will join TV sportscasters Heidi Watney and Ralph Wood (KMPH, Channel 26) and George Takata (KGPE, Channel 47) on the celebrity chef list.

Pancake breakfast tickets are $5 at the door.

Vintage Days is in the national spotlight at 6 a.m. Friday, when Miller begins broadcasting her three-hour radio show from the Satellite Student Union. “The Stephanie Miller Show” was launched in September 2004 on Air America, a politically liberal network that airs locally on KFPT, AM 790.

Tickets, which are free, are required to be in the audience for Miller’s show. The tickets can be picked up between 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at Radio City, 1071 W. Shaw Ave., Fresno. Miller will sign autographs and pose for pictures after her broadcast.

The Vintage Days student organizers take center stage at noon Thursday with opening ceremonies that include the Social Norms/Alcohol Advisory Committee, a cosponsor. Vintage Days will be declared an alcohol-free event this year, said Jason Jones, Vintage Days’ student director.

At the opening ceremonies, students will enjoy a barbecue, t-shirts, prizes and music on the University Student Union South Patio. Live music will be provided in the Pit from 1 to 3 p.m. and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday.

The Casino Night and Karaoke Contest will be from 7 to 11 p.m. Thursday in the University Student Union, presented by the Fresno State Student Alumni Association. The event theme is “Atlantis.” Prizes include a trip for two to Las Vegas and accommodations at the Montecito Sequoia Lodge in the Sequoia National Forest.

Friday’s Salsa Night, cosponsored by the Fresno State Salsa Club and AAA?, will feature live music and salsa dance lessons in the Satellite Student Union from 6:30 p.m. to midnight. Admission is free to Fresno State students; $10 for general public.

The Battle of the Bands will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday in the Satellite Student Union. Local musicians will be joined by performers from throughout the state. Admission is $5 for Fresno State Students; $7 for the general public. See the full list of bands at the Vintage Days news page: vvww.fresnostate.net/VINTAGEDAYS06/.

Live bands also will perform each day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Concert Stage (south of the Music Building near Keats and Maple). Other entertainment will be provided on the Crafts Faire Stage (on Maple Mall, south of the Satellite Student Union). Admission to the outdoor concert and entertainment is free.

At the Crafts Fair, more than 140 vendors will offer products ranging from 3-D metal art and make-your-own candles to Henna body art and marionettes.

The Vintage Days Kids Zone features pony rides, bounce houses, an inflatable slide, a petting zoo, an assortment of outer-spacecraft stations, face-painting by the Graphic Arts Club, sand boxes with sand donated by Vulcan Materials, balloons and an array of science experiments with the Science Mobile provided by the city Of Fresno. Wristbands are required for participation and will be available for $1. The California Milk Advisory Board will give out coloring books and other materials for children. Party Works is cosponsoring Kid’s Zone.

At the Boomtown Carnival, Fresno State student organizations will sell tri-tip sandwiches, smoothies, desserts and more. Games include a bungee trampoline and inflatable boxing ring.

Closing ceremonies at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Crafts Fair Stage will feature the Same Shape and Erik Janson and Band. Vintage Days closes at 5 p.m. Sunday.

The full schedule is available at www.FresnoStateNews.com and in the Vintage Press published for the event. For information, call 559.278.2741 or go online to www.fresnostate.net/VINTAGEDAYS06/.

Links:

Original press release: http://www.fresnostatenews.com/2006/03Nintage%20Days.htm

Student Activities and Leadership Development: http://studentaffairs.csufresno.edu/studentact/index.html Division of Student Affairs: http://studentaffairs.csufresno.edu/

Stephanie Miller: http://www.stephaniemiller.com/

Bee article on Stephanie Miller: http://www.fresnobee.com/lifestyle/tv/story/12071984p-12826145c.html