Yorkfest 2006 will be a totally new experience for both organizers and participants as the Festival Village and Yorkfest Stage move off the Harry Arthurs Common into larger – and drier – confines. After last year’s fun was curtailed by rain, forcing organizers to use under-sized Burton Auditorium as a concert venue, plans for this year’s biggest-ever event focused on more space for village exhibitors and a larger covered space for the concert.
Left: Students enjoy the Festival Village at Yorkfest 2005
On Wednesday, Sept. 13, more than 250 tables showcasing York student clubs and Yorkfest sponsors will line the length of Campus Walk, from the Student Centre to the Arboretum Parking Garage, allowing for better traffic flow and student interaction. Crystal Adair, events manager for the York Student Centre, said the move to Campus Walk has allowed the number of exhibitors to nearly double over last year’s 130.
The Festival Village will open from noon to 6pm, shutting down in time for the free evening concert which takes place at 7pm in the Rexall Centre's 3,000-seat, covered Centre of Excellence, just behind the main tennis stadium, located at The Pond Road and Shoreham Drive.
This year’s concert will include fewer bands than in past years, however the line-up includes several big acts that are sure to please what is expected to be a capacity crowd. The all-Canadian bands lined up for this year’s Yorkfest Stage include rockers Metric, Wintersleep and Yorkfest’s perennial "unofficial ska house band", Cheap Suits. "Yeah, we really like those guys," said Adair, "they’re really good with the audience and a lot of fun so we keep bringing them back." Also performing is the Underground’s Battle of the Bands winner, Malfunktion. A pop-rock band composed of York students, Malfunktion won the 12-band competition in March and are now set for their first performance in front of a large audience. "They’re really nervous, it’s so cute," said Adair.
Right: Metric in performance
The move to the Rexall Centre from Burton Auditorium, which seated only 600 wet patrons at last year’s event, gives Adair a chance to put on a better show for more people. "We can do more with lighting and sound this time," she said. "It will be a much better rock & roll show."
This year’s beer garden will be located in the middle of the Festival Village on the raised area between Farquharson Life Sciences Building and the Behavioural Sciences Building.
Admission to the concert is free to all York students with a York ID card. Students are allowed to bring one non-York guest but they must have photo identification and sign in at the door. Priority will be given to York students if space becomes limited.
Left: Wintersleep
A free shuttle will also be running between the Common and the Rexall Centre in the evening.
The Festival Village gives the opportunity for all York students to interact with a variety of student clubs, services and groups on and off campus. The village has grown this year to include more than 170 different student booths and 80 sponsor exhibitors, including MTV, which will be doing live street interviews, and radio stations Edge 102.1, the Flow 93.5 and Z103.5. A variety of giveaways from different booths are the main feature of the village as well as important information regarding York University and its available services.
Right: Battle of the Bands winner Malfunktion
All York-affiliated groups, services, clubs or organizations approved by the office of Student Community & Leadership Development had the opportunity to receive a booth for the Festival Village. The deadline for registration was Sept. 1. Outside groups obtained access to a village booth through the Yorkfest sponsorship opportunities, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Volunteers needed
Yorkfest 2006 is looking for volunteers to carry out the following duties throughout the day:
- Loading of tables, chairs & equipment
- Set up & tear down of the village area
- Assist in serving food and beverages
- Help back stage
- Manning the Student Centre Information table
- Assist in selling band merchandise
- Promotion of Yorkfest
Interested students should contact Courtney Yuchtman, Yorkfest volunteer coordinator.