Troyapalooza was a graveyard smash

The fifth annual student Halloween celebration, Troyapalooza, took place Tuesday night. Every year, the International Arts Center, in partnership with different student departments and organizations, put on a festival full of music, food and art.

Troyapalooza began during COVID as a way to bring students together in a trying time. Every year, the event takes place at the amphitheater on campus as well as the plaza outside of the IAC.

“We wanted to showcase the arts,” said Carrie Jaxon, director and curator of the International Arts Center. “It’s a wonderful collaboration of different departments and organizations around campus.”

Nearly everything at the event was run by students.

“We have screen printing, so students can make their own t-shirt with our logo, which was designed by one of our students for a competition,” Jaxon said. “Students created an inflatable that you can enter and experience their artwork.

“We have a photo booth run by photo students, and we have international students doing henna.”

Troy University’s popular music band, POPulus, performed all throughout the night. Students in the band performed covers of beloved songs as well as originals.

Students who attended were also encouraged to dress up for the event in celebration of Halloween. Halfway through the night, a costume contest took place on the POPulus stage. First place went to Goldie Locks and Big Bear’s costume, taking home t-shirts from Troy Admissions and a $50 to Trojan Threads.

Troyapalooza has created a fun environment for students to attend for multiple years in a row. Students and faculty of all ages come to Troyapalooza to celebrate.

“I’ve come every single year,” said Abby Bienkowski, a senior journalism major from Milton, Florida. “I love listening to all the live music, especially when I get to get up and dance.

“I love that I don’t feel judged. We can all have fun together in a space that’s not the classroom.”

“There’s so many different groups of people here, but we all share the love of music, and it’s super fun to come together,” said Leah Norris, a junior elementary education major from Birmingham, Alabama.

Troyapalooza occurs every year on the Tuesday of the week of Halloween, allowing students to take a night to have a break from the stress of the classroom and have fun with their friends.

            “I love seeing everybody come out and just have fun and take a break from studying,” said Kourtney Brown, a sophomore nursing major from Tyrone, Georgia. “I think it’s definitely a busy time in the semester that you can spend locked in your dorm or the library, so I think people taking the time to just come out and listen to the band is really nice.”

“Everybody loves music, art, and food,” Jaxon said. “It’s a wonderful way to just come together.”

The International Arts Center showcases student work rotationally throughout the year, and they house art by Nall Hollis as well as the Terracotta Warrior installation by Huo Bao Zhu. The IAC is free admission for everyone.

“We want people to know that they can come to the International Arts Center,” Jaxon said. “A lot of people don’t even know we’re here. We want people to know that this is their arts center and their park, so they should come enjoy it.

“Art is for everyone. This is just a wonderful example of how we might be diverse, but we’re also unified by art.”

To stay up to date about upcoming events at the IAC, follow @iac_troyuniversity on Instagram.