From 5-11:30 p.m. students, faculty, staff and alumni of UWM will come together to celebrate the 2008-09 academic year with activities, giveaways, free admission to Indian Summer, a faculty and staff get-together, fireworks and live music inside and outside the Amphitheater.

Tonight’s program comes one year after UWM’s inaugural PANTHERFEST, which drew more than 7,000 to the Marcus Amphitheater grounds last September.

The second annual PANTHERFEST promises to draw more attendees to the Amphitheater and offer even more entertainment than last year. Free attractions include the Euro Bungee, an obstacle course, hands-on sport and athletic demonstrations, palm readings, salsa lessons and more. Grammy-winning hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco and alt-rock piano band Jack’s Mannequin were fan favorites on the music festival circuit this summer and they will headline tonight’s 8 p.m. Amphitheater show.

“Last year we saw a huge jump in walk-up sales just before the show, about 900 people,” says Mike Schmit, reservations and event manager for the UWM Union. “We can’t have a final count until late today, but we already know tonight’s event will be bigger than last year.”

PANTHERFEST organizers say the event, with the nine days of “Campus KickOff” activities that preceded it, are part of a larger effort to provide inclusive, accessible programming to the entire UWM community.

“Serving an institution that has been around since 1956, a relatively short time for a major college or university, we envisioned PANTHERFEST as an opportunity to build enduring loyalty and to create memorable experiences for all at UWM,” explains PANTHERFEST organizer and UWM Union Director (and UWM alum) Scott Gore. “Shared traditions are critically important to the overall feeling of an institution.”

Although the two musical genres and tonight’s headliners were selected in response to a student survey and students are the key PANTHERFEST audience, large numbers of UWM faculty, staff and alumni are expected at PANTHERFEST.

Anticipating the impressive turnout, PANTHERFEST organizers are offering a few pieces of last-minute advice to UWM students:

1. You’re welcome. Your backpack is not.
For security reasons, backpacks will not be allowed into PANTHERFEST.

2. Get on the bus – early.
Busses begin boarding at 4:30 p.m. PANTHERFEST opens at 5 p.m. Be first in line for giveaways, free activities and don’t miss a moment of mainstage entertainment by boarding a shuttle as early as possible.
 
3. PANTHERFEST goes on rain or shine.
Watch the weather. If it’s warm, that’s great. If it’s cold or rainy, bring a sweatshirt. We’ll be ready for you.

4. Be neighborly.
Shuttles will be bringing students back to campus from 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Please return to your residences as quietly as possible.

For shuttle schedules and more information about PANTHERFEST visit campuskickoff.com or campuskickoff.com/blog.