MayFest will continue as a university-sanctioned event for the second year in a row, Student Association and University Union officials announced Monday. The Cataracs, known for being featured on the single ‘Like a G6,’ will headline the event.

From 1 to 6 p.m. on April 29, MayFest will take place in Walnut Park, SA President Neal Casey said. Opening for The Cataracs will be Hoodie Allen, a hip-hop artist, Casey said. The first performer will be DJ Guy Harrison, a freshman in S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, he said.

MayFest is designed to lead into University Union’s Block Party 2011, which begins at 7 p.m. on the same day. The two events are programmed separately and have different budgets, said Andrew Beyda, UU president. UU requested $12,000 in appeals money and $5,000 more in co-curricular funding for MayFest, Beyda said.

The biggest change from last year will be the 350 guest tickets available for non-Syracuse University students, Casey said. The guest tickets will cost $20 each. SU students may purchase one guest ticket at the Schine Box Office beginning Tuesday. The sales will extend until MayFest or until the tickets sell out.

‘It was the biggest piece of feedback that we heard from students last year from our end — was that they wanted to bring their friends,’ Casey said.

The number of available tickets was calculated at 350 to allow for a balance between students bringing friends from outside SU and ensuring that the maximum number of SU students can gain access to Walnut Park. The Syracuse Fire Department estimates the capacity of Walnut Park is about 10,000 people, Beyda said.

SU and State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry students will need to present a student ID at Walnut Park, upon which they will be able to enter for free, Casey said. He said there will be food and drinks — both alcoholic and soft — available for free inside.

Students 21 years of age or older will be able enter an area to get beer after they are given a wristband with tabs, Casey said. Each time a student is given a beer, one tab will be removed. Students can have a maximum of two or four beers, depending on when they arrive to the event. Students who arrive before 3 p.m. will receive wristbands with four tabs; those arriving after 3 p.m. will have two tabs.

Students will only be able to enter this area and receive a bracelet once, he said. Students who appear too intoxicated will not be served.

The Department of Public Safety, Syracuse Police Department and Chestnut Security will all be on hand for MayFest, Casey said. Numbers of how many officers will be on patrol are not yet available. SU Ambulance and Emergency Medical Technicians will also be present. There were no major safety issues at last year’s MayFest in Walnut Park, Casey said.

SPD will take the same precautions this year in the Euclid Avenue area that they took last year, Casey said.

The activity on Euclid, where students traditionally flood the street to party during MayFest, was discussed while planning the event. Casey said he expected Euclid to remain in the discussion for a few more years, given the history of MayFest. MayFest officially became a university-sanctioned event held on Walnut Park last year, resulting in student outcry. Students still partied on Euclid last year, but not to the extent of previous years.

The Shaw and Brockway dining halls will close at 2 p.m. on MayFest, Casey said. He said the staff will be needed elsewhere, and these two dining halls were chosen by looking at their attendance.

Other changes to MayFest have been minor and have attempted to improve problems that arose last year.

Last year, students had difficulty hearing the music in the food and beer areas, Beyda said. To address that issue, more speakers will cover the area, he said. The only other changes from previous years were administrative, such as looking into the placement of the entrances and exits, Casey said.

Beyda said he is optimistic about student opinion regarding the continued changes to MayFest, and said he has seen more positive reactions about the university-sanctioned event.

Said Beyda: ‘I think we are definitely, from what I’ve seen and heard, winning over hearts and minds on this event.’

spcotter@syr.edu

— News Editor Dara McBride contributed reporting to this article.

Published on April 10, 2011 at 12:00 pm