Students celebrate Autmus Fest

Music, food, and fun! Students, alumni and the community came together for a day of celebration at the Autmus Fest on Saturday, Oct. 6.

The lawn in front of the Killam Library was full of smiling faces with over 300 people attending an event that has become a tradition for the university.

Features such as face painting, bouncers, slides, belly dancing, music, video games, dunking booths, and food were all present at the festival.

"I have attended the Autmus Fest for the past three years, and I believe this is one of the better years," Samantha Garcia, a junior, said.

Garcia believed the event was people-friendly, and she enjoyed watching the L.A. Guns perform. She was also eager to see Los Palominos perform at 11:30 p.m.

Garcia wasn't the only one who enjoyed the event.

Mario Andrews, a senior, also had a fun time at the festival.

"I love the atmosphere; the people have been very friendly, the area is clean, and I appreciate the security the event provides," Andrews, who came with a couple of friends, said.

Andrews said this while eating a great corn on the cob, only one of the many snacks available at the Autmus Fest. Others included ribs, fajita tacos, flautas, hotdogs, nachos, funnel cakes, chips, water, and beer. The food really gave international students a grasp of the Laredo culture.

For example, Juliana Gusmao, a senior from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, said, "I really enjoyed having a taste of the Laredo flavors; being a college student, and living on your own, can really deprive you from good homemade food, but today I was able to enjoy great food."

While some had a blast at the Autmus Fest, others had mixed feelings about the event. Adrian Romano was one of them.

"I believe we are an international university; therefore, there should be more international music that targets a little bit of everyone's culture," Romano said.

He said, however, that the event was still great.

Though a few would like some minor changes made to the event, the Autmus Fest still provided a food and entertainment for many people.