Bigelow Bash offers music, fishpong

Students crowded Bigelow Boulevard on Saturday afternoon, and they didn’t have to worry about… Students crowded Bigelow Boulevard on Saturday afternoon, and they didn’t have to worry about being cited by the police for doing so.

Bigelow Bash, a festival held by the Pitt Program Council each spring, was free to Pitt undergraduates and cost $10 for all others. The Saturday event included activities ranging from volleyball to potted plant gardening.’

Members of the student band RC Static took the stage at 2:30 p.m. They won the chance to perform in a challenge on Facebook. Fifteen bands posted sample songs and music in the Facebook group ‘Band Search for Bigelow Bash!’ and students posted on the group’s wall to vote for their favorite.

Band members Matt Rosemeier, Eric Biel, Donny Cortese and Rick Lesnock stirred up the crowd to begin the day with a blended pop and modern rock sound. Secondhand Serenade, known for the song ‘Fall for You,’ performed at 4 p.m. and indie rock band The Academy is … played at 5:30 p.m.

Lead singer William Beckett received cheers from the crowd about mid-show, after thrusting several times and tossing his microphone stand. He finished off by blowing a kiss to the crowd.

Sophomore Amber Scarlett said she enjoyed the group’s performance.

‘I love Bigelow Bash, they always pick the best bands to play,’ she said. ‘I was pumped to come here today since I had gone to Fall Fest last semester and had heard Bigelow Bash was even better.’

The windy weather only caused problems for participants competing in the cornhole tournament and playing fishpong, in which contestants toss pingpong balls into containers to win goldfish

Some students tried to surf. Though the Pitt Program Council didn’t bring the ocean to Bigelow Boulevard this year, they did bring Robosurf, a machine with a built-in backdrop depicting the summer sun and endless ocean waves as students pretended to surf.

Freshman Erin Gattuso gave the machine a shot.

‘I think to do well you can’t be afraid to look like a total idiot,’ she said.

Some students traded in their sweatshirts and coats for old-school dresses, ties and suits at Yesteryear Antique Photos. Students received sepia photos with titles like ‘Reward’ and ‘Wanted’ on the top of them.

The Nissan Cube caught some students’ attention. As part of a challenge issued by Nissan, Pitt marketing students are trying to create an advertising campaign for the car on a $2,500 budget.

‘Bigelow Bash is our biggest event for advertising the car. It took a lot of work to even be here,’ said senior Mark Boucher, who’s in the class working on the campaign.