Recreational Sports and Wellness held their annual Rec Fest filled with fun, music and crawfish. 

Rec Fest was held Thursday, April 23 at 4 p.m. in front of the Pennington Student Activity Center. Rec Fest is an annual program and it has originated from other annual programs in the past. 

“[Rec Fest] actually stemmed from programs we were doing related to our health and fitness programs. It was named Soaked, then after Soaked we did that for a couple years and then decided that we wanted to move into our Rec Fest program,” said Dollie Hebert-Crouch, director of Recreational Sports and Wellness.

Rec Fest can be described as a relaxation from competition, a time to have fun and a time to build relationships. 

“[Rec Fest] revolved around passive recreation,” said Herbert-Crouch. “We wanted to create an opportunity where students can come and hang out, yet have opportunities to participate  in different activities that weren’t structured not like intramurals or even working out in the fitness room, but something fun, different, almost like your field day back when you were in school.” 

There were numerous activities for students to participate in. 

“We have jousting and a mechanical bull. We were doing some specific things such as the hula hooping to the Macarena and the YMCA,” said Herbert-Crouch. “People can go and slip and slide, and we will also have beach balls going around attracting the ones that are eating or the groups that are passive hopefully getting them involved.”

Along with the games, there was a live band playing music on the stage entertaining the students.

“Different things like that where they can participate but it doesn’t have to be an intense competitive participation and it’s just something that’s fun,” said Herbert-Crouch. 

One major thing about Rec Fest that attracts plenty of students is the free crawfish. 

“Rec Fest is fun, but I mainly come out here to enjoy the free crawfish,” said Chrystal Cavalier, sophomore social work major. “It’s Louisiana and crawfish is a part of our culture, so why not enjoy it.” 

As students stood in line for crawfish, it started to rain, but despite the downpour,  the festivities continued as students sat under the Rec covered area, ate crawfish, corn, potatoes and socialize among each other. 

“We just want everybody to come out and enjoy it. We want to keep it as an annual program that we offer to the students,” said Herbert-Crouch.  “It’s about enjoying each other’s company, about relationships and it’s about recreational sports doing something positive and fun for the students of Southeastern.”

 

Stacie Ray and Danielle Shearer of The Vine & Branches opens for Rec Fest. They performed music that they not only hoped audience members knew, but was Christian as well. 
The Lion’s Roar / Tamara Alexander