Rocktoberfest features music, food and family

by EMERSON GUTIERREZ

Senior Writer

With the cooler temperatures, leaves changing color and days getting shorter comes one of UMW’s best annual events: Rocktoberfest. On Friday, Oct. 6 on Jefferson Square, the University, with the help of UMW Class Council, welcomed the bands Center Point and Cartwheel for an evening of food, drinks and good vibes all night long.

Throughout the week, I kept hearing students mention the upcoming event, and many people, such as myself and Allison Stanmier, a freshman art and education double major, were curious to see what the hype was all about.

Upon my arrival, I was greeted with an incredible performance by Center Point. The first song I heard playing was “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons, and the crowd was feeling it, dancing to the nostalgic rock song that filled the air. Seeing my fellow classmates jamming and vibing along was phenomenal. The performances by both bands were impressive, and their sound soared through the skies. Before I knew it, the crowd had doubled in size. 

The first band to play, Center Point, is well known in Northern Virginia for their unique sound, as they cover classic rock, recent pop hits and modern country with their own personalized touch to the music, making it hard to not sing along to. They have been around since 2013, blessing the NOVA area with their music, covering hits from the last six decades. 

The second band, Cartwheel, had a magnificent performance as well, and their variety of genres mixed with their unique sound filled the air, picking up right where Center Point left off. 

As the crowd grew, so did the food line. The famous pork sandwiches and baked beans that were also a highlight at last year’s event were just as delicious as expected. Students filled their plates, as did I, and I must say, food tastes better when it’s free. The food there definitely hit the spot, or, as some may say: It was “bussin.” 

On the other side of the event was the beer garden, and it was no shocker that the line was just as long as the food line. While there wasn’t much variety of alcohol to choose from, it offered another space to let loose. 

“Despite the overpriced alcohol, I’m having a blast! I’m enjoying the music and food, the energy is just great!” said Dominic Wasilewski, a senior business administration major, at the event. “It’s actually my first time attending the Rocktober Festival. It’s been a great way to take your mind off things and enjoy yourself with friends. The best part of the whole event was the free food! Because who doesn’t love free food!?”

In order to enter the beer garden, patrons met security who worked to ensure that whoever entered was at least 21 years old. All alcoholic beverages stayed within the beer garden, which was gated off by an orange safety fence, and security did a great job at ensuring that attendees abided by these rules.

There were many people playing cornhole in the beer garden while enjoying their choice of beverage, but the space was lacking, as cornhole was the only game there. I do think that providing more choice in games would have attracted more interaction and possibly greater turnout to the event. 

Amidst the crowd were friends and UMW families gathered, enjoying the performances. There were smiles all around with the perfect scenery for pictures, creating nothing but a memorable evening. Most of the audience had blankets and lawn chairs set up, and whenever I looked around, I saw people enjoying themselves, taking selfies, recording the performance and singing along. I even caught myself tapping my foot to the music at one point, as I was also captivated by the sound. 

“The atmosphere is fantastic,” said junior linguistics major Emma Sanford. “This event gives us the chance to socialize and simply relax and enjoy the performance.”

As midterm season approaches and students focus on their studies, Rocktoberfest offered a welcome reprieve. 

“It’s been a stressful week,” said senior marketing major Mohammed Hassan. “Being able to attend the event and simply enjoy myself was much needed.” 

Rocktoberfest was exactly what I anticipated, and it was a great way to spend the night and kick off the fall season. Being able to attend and get first-hand experience of the festivities was immaculate, and the energy at the event was unmatched.

Overall, it’s safe to say that the Rocktoberfest was a success in my eyes. It’s definitely an event you do not want to miss out on, and luckily it’s hosted annually. 

“This is my first Rocktober event and it’s very exciting,” said Stanmier at the event. “I love the music being played and will definitely be returning next time.”