The festival lineup is stacked heavily with rap artists — Waka Flocka Flame of “Hard in Da Paint” fame is headlining Springfest2016.
Organizers of Washington State University’s Springfest have abandoned the event’s traditional carnival format, one that would bring large rides and one headliner musical act, and have instead opted for an all-day music festival this year.
“We wanted to change it up this year because we’ve done basically the same thing for years now,” said Nathan Cherzan, special events programmer for the Student Entertainment Board, which has hosted the event since 2003.
Cherzan said with the rides being ditched, there’s now plenty of room on Wilson Road for an outdoor stage and the heavy foot traffic from the 3,000 patrons the SEB is expecting Saturday. Six performers are spaced throughout the day, and the concert will be outside, rain or shine.
Cherzan said his organization aimed to get more student engagement in the event by bringing a larger and more musically diverse lineup to campus. The headliner is Atlantan and trap hip hop artist Waka Flocka Flame.
Alongside Flocka are rappers Ryan Caraveo and Grynch, both from Seattle, as well as Washington State University’s own rapper, Taylor Taliulu, or Tay Ali, who will kick off the music at 2 p.m.
Other performers include EDM and hip hop producer DJ Destructo, as well as the SEB’s recently announced surprise performer, Marc E. Bassy, a R&B artist from the San Francisco Bay Area.
Although there won’t be the large carnival rides of past years, Cherzan said, the SEB will still provide patrons with bounce houses, photo booths, vendors and food from four different food trucks.
There will also be a full functioning beer garden, Cherzan said.
Springfest2016 Schedule
Gates: 1:30 p.m.
Tay Ali: 2-2:30 p.m.
Grynch: 2:40-3:30 p.m.
Ryan Caraveo: 3:40-4:30 p.m.
Marc E. Bassy: 5-6 p.m.
DJ Desctructo: 7-8 p.m.
Waka Flocka Flame: 8:30-9:30 p.m.
If You Go:
What: Springfest2016
When: 1:30-10 p.m. Saturday
Where: Wilson Road, Pullman
Cost: $31 general public, $20 students
