For most students, the peak college experience at The University of New Mexico is Fiestas, the annual student event that kicks off every Spring, and one of the largest music festivals in New Mexico. This year’s event will take place at Johnson Field on Saturday, April 6, from 3 to 9 p.m.
The event is open to UNM students with IDs. Each student can bring two plus ones.
This year’s event will be headlined by B.o.B. — most famous for his songs "Airplanes" with Hayley Williams of Paramore, "Nothin' on You" with Bruno Mars, and "Magic" with Rivers Cuomo. Three local bands, The Mango Cakes, Red Light Cameras, Slums of Harvard, and one local D.J., The Red Panda, will also perform. Indigo Waves, a nationally recognized band, is also back in the lineup by popular student demand!
“We are excited to rejuvenate this awesome event after its three-year hiatus from 2020 to 2022 due to Covid-19. Last year was its first year back and it was a huge success!” said Glyn Ramkowsky, Executive Director Student Special Events at UNM, “We expect an even more amazing event this year and look forward to seeing how students enjoy it! We think this will quickly become the MOST popular event on campus among the student body.”
Three food trucks, Kona Ice, JPZ Concessions, and Rollin’ in Hot, will be at the festivities. Three different interactive activities, such as an inflatable obstacle course, human foosball, and an eight-player meltdown game, will allow students to test their physical abilities and avoid being knocked off their platform by rotating arms from the middle.
Fiestas is a production of ASUNM Student Special Events (SSE), the student-led organization that has put all of the hard work into facilitating the event. Their team would like to give a big “Thank You” to the UNM Student Activities Center, the Student Government Accounting Office, SSE’s advisor Ryan Lindquist, and their accountant, Karl Anderson, for all of their assistance in putting together this event. Among Ramkowsky’s team are Assistant Director Thomas Valenzuela, Marketing Assistant Madison Kelsh, Volunteer Coordinator Ren Gallegos, Cultural Director Noelani Dixon, and Speakers Director Andrew Norton.
"Fiestas, the epicenter of campus excitement, is set to electrify with B.o.B leading the charge. As the largest event on campus, it's not just about the music—it's about the collective energy, the vibrant community, and the unforgettable memories waiting to be made,” Ramkowsky explained. “From the pulsating beats to the exciting interactive activities and diverse food trucks, Fiestas promises to bring an experience that transcends the ordinary campus life, giving students a FREE break from the stress of college life.”
Students can visit SSE’s Events Calendar or their Instagram page (@sse_asunm) for more updates.