Noah Dobbertin, Head of Community Engagement and Anuksha Singh, Head of Student Organizations
On April 4th, the Diag and North University will be surging with live music, food trucks, fashion, art, innovation and great vibes, as MUSIC Matters’ highly anticipated lifestyle festival, SpringFest, unites campus once again. SpringFest highlights all areas of the Michigan Community, ranging from student organizations to local Ann Arbor businesses and encompassing areas from arts and identity to social change, innovation, and sustainability. We’ll preview some of the features of this killer event, but you’ll have to see it to believe it April 4th:
Performance and Music
Free live music from the winners of MUSIC Matters’ Battle of the Bands contest- OSSI, Nadim Azzam, and Oren Levin- will take over the mainstage, while student performance groups like Leim Irish Dance, FunKtion, Flowdom, and Michigan Ballroom occupy the day stage. A Capella groups such as Kol HaKavod and the Harmonettes will perform on the Diag, in addition to several spoken word poets. What’s more, Hip Hop Congress will be hosting a rap cypher that anyone is welcome to join, and Empty Mug Records will have a sound garden with instruments and acoustic performances. We promise there will be something for everyone to jam out to!
Food
While you’re exploring all that SpringFest has to offer, feel free to swing by our row of food trucks on North University to grab a bite to eat. This year, the food truck lineup will include Saucy Joe’s, Petey’s Donuts, Bearclaw Coffee Co., and El Taco Veloz.
MUSIC Matters’ Social Ventures
What is one piece of advice you would tell your 15 year old self? Come by the Michigan Overnight Experience (MOvE) table, in the MUSIC Matters’ social ventures tent to tell us! We will be compiling a video of all your responses to show to our campers at our MOvE Camp, a three day program for rising sophomores from Detroit with the goal of creating a positive perception of the college experience and inspire them to maintain higher education as a priority. While you are at there stop by our mini library, built by our CoMMunity Partner, Books For A Benefit!
Sustainability and Innovation
We will be showcasing some of the incredible projects of sustainability student organizations like The UM Sustainable Food Program (UMSFP) who will be repurposing collected denim in a jean upcycling booth. Even MDining will be there hosting a Chef’s Table with free food sourced from U of M’s Campus Farm. Our innovation section will showcase Spark Racing’s world-record breaking electric motorcycle, Chronos. In addition, student design teams BlueLab and MHEAL will display the projects they have been building all year. There is some cool innovation and change happening amongst us on campus, and we’re bringing it all to you.
Student Organizations
Over 60 student organizations will be showcasing the unique value they add to the Michigan Community. Fashion organizations such as SHEI, Noir, Elegance, and Enspired will host their annual SpringFest Fashion show at the Day Stage on North University, focusing on streetwear inspired looks. Miscellania will be teaching festival goers how to slackline and pick locks while the Michigan Parkour team will be running a mini speed course.
Social Identity
Social Identity focused organizations will be hosting interactive booths at SpringFest. Hillel is bringing Golden Apple award winning professors for coffee chats and the Black Student Union will offer an interactive art exhibit inspired by the Nelson Mandela Color Garden at the Apartheid Museum. Sikh Student Association will provide henna tattoos and educate people about Sikhism through a tie a turban activity. Lean in and What the F magazine will have stations focused on feminism. SAPAC will also have an art installation for festival goers to help complete and raise awareness regarding sexual assault issues.
Health and Wellness
With all of the excitement and activities of SpringFest, we know attendees will want some time to chill. CAPS in Action, Mind Matters, Wolverine Support Network, and PULSE will all be part of SpringFest’s Chill Zone, where students can splatter paint, reflect on highlights of their year, and learn more about mental and physical wellness.
Art
Attendees can personalize a flower pot for their new free succulent, courtesy of Arts at Michigan and the Matthaei Botanical Gardens. The STAMPS Gallery will be bringing exhibits to SpringFest, and Live in Color will be giving students the chance to help create a mural. Michigan Photography Club will be celebrating cultural diversity at Michigan with a gallery, and Michigan Ice Carving will be creating a sick sculpture.
Shopping and Sponsorships
SpringFest extends beyond university affiliated groups, bringing in corporate sponsors, local pop up shops, and startups to tie the festival into the greater Ann Arbor community. Your favorite local boutiques such as Bivouac, Motivation, Greatness the One, York Project, and PATOS will be bringing their merchandise to North University. Even the Hub will have a tie dye station! In our startup village, SAHI Cosmetics will be providing foundation samples that will be perfectly matched to your skin tone. Ascape Audio, a Detroit earbud company founded by two Michigan alumni, will be unveiling what they believe is the next big thing in music technology. Furthermore, Gwydion will be demoing their virtual reality technology that is being developed for educational and professional purposes.
After all of this, make sure you go home and rest up before Louis the Child and the Lost Kings take over Hill Auditorium. If you want to learn more about how SpringFest has grown over the years, pick up a copy of Consider Magazine’s “Guide to SpringFest”, which will be given away at various booths the day of the festival. We are excited to see you from day to night on April 4th!