Homecoming committee kicks off the countdown festivities

Christina Guerrero/Contributing Writer

Just when you think our own EDC Summerfest concert was going to be the last and biggest event of the summer, you thought wrong.

Our homecoming committee has been going above and beyond, year after year to live up to their name of throwing the best homecoming events.

This year, FIU successfully threw its own carnival to kick off the 100-day countdown to homecoming. On July 27, hundreds of people came out to celebrate and be part of this memorable event.

Vendors, food trucks, clubs and organizations were all gathered between the gold and blue garages with information, freebies and activities for all. With the help of our own Caribbean and Haitian student associations, the event was decorated with all the flags that represent the Caribbean islands and countries.

Near the main stage, information tables displayed the famous carnival costumes from different masquerades bands, letting people try on the feathered sequin headdress and enormous back pieces.

The stage was decorated with white balloons, vibrant color decorative, where the DJ battle was taken place.

Throughout the event, all the talented mixers — DJ Rogue Beatz, DJ Double A, DJ Osocity, DJ Lav3sh, DJ Blain, and DJ Dash– were battling for a spot to perform at our biggest show of the year, Panthermonium. The guest judges was Y100’s DJ Frankie P, DJ Volume and Rafael Rodriguez, president of Uplight Miami Production Company.

“When we were looking for DJs, the main criteria for them was that they had heavy experience in the DJ world and had a good ear when it comes to music,” said Gabriel Tejada , assistant director and vice-president of administration for the Homecoming and Student Programing Council.

The crowd danced the night away to different types of music from electronic, old school and modern day hip-hop to Caribbean reggae and Soca.

Soon after, there was an unexpected performance from the carnival dancers all decorated from head to toe energizing the crowd to close the event.

“The homecoming committee really stepped outside its own box and I wasn’t expecting this at all! If this is the first event, I can’t wait until the next one,” Brianna Maymi said, a freshman majoring in social work .

The semifinalist DJs were posted on FIU’s social media — Twitter and Instagram– the next day and moved on to the next battle. The next DJ battle is August 21–Revelation- the 75-day countdown to homecoming. It is expected to have more activities, a bigger audience and more special surprises.

For more information studentaffairs.fiu.edu

Photo courtesy of FIU Homecoming.