Students filled Cruz Plaza with blankets and chairs as Bearstock started around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 14 and came to an end at 7:30 p.m. The annual concert, put on by QuadWorks, featured three separate student acts and professional band Hot Chelle Rae and Decatur-born and Grammy-nominated artist B.o.B.
But while the concert was set to start in the afternoon, the festivities began Saturday morning. Students started showing up to the event over an hour before it began at 1 p.m. Grayson Bolinaga ‘29 said he got in line to get a free “Be the Bear” Owala water bottle around 11:30 a.m.
Bolinaga was first in the line that began at one of the campus life tents and extended nearly to the main stage. Students camped out in the line waiting for Bearstock to kick off.
“I just happened to be here and I didn’t want to leave,” Bolinaga said.
Emma Kennedy ‘29 sat on a blanket on Cruz Plaza with her friends near the beginning of Bearstock.
“I’m feeling pretty pumped,” Kennedy, who was experiencing Bearstock as a Mercer student for the first time, said.
Aleah Ajohda ‘28 said she came out to Bearstock wanting to eat food, and she got free food and morning vibes.
“I got vibes, I danced,” she said. “I saw my best friend play the trumpet, and that was the coolest thing ever.”
Samara Brutus ‘28 said everyone was relaxing on their picnic blankets and that the vibes were good. Eating snow cones, hanging out with her friends and the weather were highlights of her day, she said.
“Georgia has bipolar weather, so the fact that it's actually like sunny outside is kind of great,” Brutus said.
The sun was shining, everyone had their sunglasses on and beach balls were all around Cruz, Harris Wallace ‘27 said.
“This year, the weather is perfect, the music is perfect. I mean, I think the vibes are perfect,” Wallace, who was tabling for Mercer Votes during Bearstock, said.
Greek life tents were full of students listening to the music and playing yard games like corn hole.
Caleb Vaughn ‘29 said he was excited that he got to spend time with his Pi Kappa Phi fraternity brothers, throw the football with them and listen to the live music. He said he enjoyed tailgating.
Cassie Bailey ‘27 was listening to the music from the Alpha Gamma Delta tent with Grace Artz ‘29, who was excited for her first Bearstock experience after people told her that it was the highlight of their year in previous years.
“Honestly, it's just fun to hear all the different artists in the music,” Bailey said.
