The Division of Academic and Student Affairs announced that the Spin Doctors, an American rock band based in New York City, will headline the 2017 Packapalooza concert. The Spin Doctors are best known for their early 1990s hits “Two Princes” and “Little Miss Can’t be Wrong.”
Packapalooza, an annual block party held on Hillsborough Street, will mark the beginning of the fall semester. The event, which is sponsored in part by the Division of Academic and Student Affairs, will kick off Wolfpack Welcome Week, and feature a concert as well as games and other activities.
The band has been active since the 1980s and are currently on tour. They will continue this tour as the main event at NC State’s Packapalooza.
Justine Hollingshead, chief of staff for the vice chancellor and dean of DASA, described the decision to ask the Spin Doctors to headline the event as ideal.
“This was a planning team decision,” Hollingshead said. “The group is made up of students, staff and representatives from the City of Raleigh and local neighborhoods. Taking into account our budget, we worked with Deep South Entertainment in Raleigh to assist with determining possible artists.”
Hollingshead also described the process for which the final decision on choosing an artist was made.
“We contacted a broad base of agents to solicit interest and availability in our price range,” Hollingshead said. “From the list, we narrowed it down to our top three and went from there with making offers. We are happy to say the Spin Doctors were our top choice and they are excited to be a part of the event.”
According to Hollingshead, beside the Spin Doctors, festival-goers will have more music and events to look forward to.
“We are finalizing the entertainment for all three stages and are pleased to share that we have covered most genres of music,” Hollingshead said. “There should be something for everyone throughout the day. The FedEx racecar is making a return to the event. We will also be showcasing the athletics department in primetime on the Belltower stage.”
Ada Evbuomwan, a senior studying business administration, said she was excited for the concert.
“I don’t know much about the Spin Doctors, but I hope the concert is fun and full of energy. It’ll be a nice way to start the semester,” Evbuomwan said.
According to the Packapalooza website, the festival is also intended as a way to inform students about NC State traditions.
“Throughout the day you will have opportunities to learn about NC State’s traditions, including the history of the Belltower and what makes it chime. We’ll also show how we are making an academic impact on the world around us,” the website reads.
Packapalooza will also include various “zones” where festival goers can participate in a multitude of games and activities. There will be an arts zone dedicated to “paint, clay, chalk, theatre and fire hooping” according to the official website.
Along with the concert and activities, Packapalooza will also feature food and refreshments from restaurants and vendors along Hillsborough Street.
Hollingshead mentioned the reason why she believes Packapalooza to be an exciting event for the NC State community.
“In the sixth year of the event I am most excited about how we have engaged all facets of NC State in addition to the local community,” Hollingshead said. “This is a premiere event for NC State and a way to showcase all we have to offer. It is also a fun and exciting day for those that attend.”
When asked what students should look forward to, Hollingshead discussed how she believes the event can give back to the Raleigh community.
“Everyone can look forward to a jam-packed day with events and activities for people of all ages,” Hollingshead said. “This is a great way for NC State students to kick off the academic year and for us to give back to the local community. We encourage everyone to stay tuned to our website and download the Packapalooza app for more details as we get closer to the event.”
Evbuomwan echoed Hollingshead’s sentiment when discussing what she was most looking forward to in Packapalooza.
“I’ve only been to Packapalooza once, freshman year,” Evbuomwan said. “It’s a great welcome week event, because you meet so many new people. I’m most excited to see all my friends and obviously eat all of the food from the street vendors.”
The annual Packapalooza concert and festival will be held on Aug. 19 from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. For more information, visit the official Packapalooza website.
Hunter Thomsen, the rhythm guitarist of We the Kings, performs for a crowd during the band's headline concert for Packapalooza on Aug. 20. The performance capped off the all-day block party on Hillsborough Street which is the final event of Wolfpack Welcome Week. The annual festival drew roughly 60,000 people in 2016.
