As college students grow more and more stressed throughout the semester, Fiestas at the University of New Mexico comes around for an opportunity to blow off steam and dress up, according to UNM freshman Rachel Shiver.
Fiestas started as a rodeo, said Chance Hoover, the Students Special Events Executive director.
“When the University was founded, a couple years after that, the festival was a three-day rodeo, and it did include live music,” he said.
Fiestas has grown since then.
More recently, SSE, which is part of the Associated Students of UNM, puts the event together each year, featuring a variety of music acts at Johnson Field.
This year, the event included tents filled with ASUNM agencies, Greek organizations and other groups on campus, said SSE Concerts Director Xavier Vallejo.
Zorb Ball, an Instagram photo opp area and a blow up obstacle course were also available.
Fiestas is armed with a 10-act lineup to get students flooding in and listening to bands like Hippie Sabotage and Quinn XCII.
Vallejo also manned the backstage portion of the festival. He said his experience was exhilarating, adding that “it was cool just to be with Quinn, Hippie Sabotage, HDBeenDope all backstage.”
Attendees waved their hands in the air as they danced around and shouted. The crowd would rally up just before bands went on stage.
“I think that this festival is amazing, because we all get to enjoy a fun night, especially with finals coming up,” said UNM sophomore Zachary Larry.
Backstage was just as exciting for UNM student Brad Smith, who performed at Fiestas in 2 Man Embassy.
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“(It was) a mix of stress and excitement, but overall good vibes...It was a lot of fun, super nerve-racking at first, but once we started we just had a ton of fun dancing and messing around up there,” Smith said.
Lights flashed and students jumped to the beat of the music coming together.
Freshman Hanna Alley of Advance Lobo Leaders said, “There is no other event like this in Albuquerque.”
“It’s just a great way to commemorate the end of the year and celebrate everyone’s achievements,” Vallejo said.
Amy Byres is a news and culture reporter at the Daily Lobo. She primarily writes profiles on DACA recipients. She can be contacted at culture@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @amybyres12.
