The largest and most anticipated of NC State’s Wolfpack Welcome Week events, Packapalooza, will return to Hillsborough Street Saturday from 2 to 10 p.m. About 45,000 people attended last year’s festival, and similar numbers are expected to return this year, according to the event website.
Justine Hollingshead, co-chair director of Packapalooza, said she is ready to continue the annual tradition as organizers hope to appeal not only to students, but to the entire Raleigh and NC State community with both new and expanded-upon attractions.
“There’s something for everyone,” Hollingshead said. “Whether you like turkey legs and the sports zone, or listening to music or shopping down Hillsborough, there should be something for everyone. It’s going to be a great day.”
Jeff Murison, producer of Live It Up! On Hillsborough, said that because of the success of previous years, new developments have been added to the showcase.
Three new zones have been added to the event, a Service Zone, a Senior Zone and a Young Alumni zone, according to Hollingshead.
The Service Zone will feature several organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Kay Yow Cancer Fund and Feed the Pack, said Hollingshead.
She said the new Senior Zone will be hosted at McDaids and will offer students who are in their senior year a place to network and learn more about the Alumni Association.
Last year, more seniors signed up for the Alumni Association during Packapalooza than the entire previous year, according to Hollingshead.
Hollingshead said the Young Alumni Zone will be at La Rancherita and will hopefully attract alumni who graduated about five to 10 years ago.
In addition to these three new zones, other popular areas have been expanded and further developed.
“The development of the Wolfpack Zone as a center of school spirit was highly successful, so that will be expanded this year,” Murison said.
Hollingshead said attendees should expect to see more vendors, a new stage for performances, student groups, academic departments and a number of start-up companies.
The new stage will host two Art2Wear shows, and attendees can expect to see Justin LeBlanc, an assistant professor at NC State and a contestant of the reality TV show, Project Runway, according to Hollingshead.
The festival will also feature 10 musical guests including the headlining artist, Scotty McCreery, and various university a cappella groups, such as the Grains of Time and the Ladies in Red.
“For first-year students in particular, it’s a great way to be exposed to all the things the University has to offer,” Hollingshead said. “It’s a great way for faculty and staff to share a celebratory experience and to kick off the year right.”
Students who are returning to Packapalooza say it is an opportunity to explore groups and activities they may be interested in joining.
“It’s a good way to find out about clubs and different groups on campus and get really cool cups,” said Cliff Johnson, a sophomore in engineering.
Johnson said that as a Scotty McCreery fanatic, he is most excited about the concert.
“I’ve never seen [McCreery] play live,” said Wanlin Zheng, a senior in statistics.
“I saw him at Bojangles once, but that’s it. This will be my first time seeing him actually perform.”
Regardless of varying interests, Hollingshead said there should be something to entertain all attendees.
Students who wish to stay up-to-date with Packapalooza can download the NC State Guide for Packapalooza app.
