SWOSUPalooza facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SWOSUPalooza |
|
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Live music |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Location(s) | Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Weatherford, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Years active | 25 |
| Inaugurated | April 13, 2000 |
| Founder | Chip Diffendaffer |
| Most recent | April 5–6, 2019 |
SWOSUPalooza is a super fun yearly concert held at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) in Weatherford. It's a big event for the university, bringing together local bands, regional artists, and even famous national musicians! The name "SWOSUPalooza" is a bit like the famous Lollapalooza festival. It's all put together by the SWOSU Student Government Association (SGA).
Contents
History of SWOSUPalooza
The idea for SWOSUPalooza started way back in 1997. A group of friends at SWOSU thought it would be cool to have a big concert. But it took a few years for the idea to become real.
Getting Started
The first concert was planned for the 1999–2000 school year. The SWOSU Student Government Association (SGA) worked hard to get enough money. It was tough, and they were still looking for funds just a month before the show!
Free Concerts to Ticketed Shows
For its first ten years, SWOSUPalooza was completely free for everyone to enjoy. But in 2010, the SWOSU SGA decided to make a small change. They voted to charge a small ticket price. This helped them raise more money. With more funds, they could invite even bigger and more famous bands to play!
Concerts During Challenging Times
SWOSUPalooza 21 was supposed to happen on April 9, 2020. However, the world faced the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of this, the university moved all classes online. The concert had to be moved to August 20. Then it was postponed again to October 22. Finally, it was moved one more time to March 21, 2021. This meant there was no concert in 2020.
Past Concerts and Performers
Over the years, SWOSUPalooza has hosted many amazing bands and artists. The event has grown a lot since its first show in 2000. It started with local and regional groups. Later, it began to feature well-known national acts as headliners. Many different types of music have been played. The concerts have been held at various spots on the SWOSU campus. These include the Memorial Student Center, Milam Stadium, and the Pioneer Cellular Event Center. Sometimes, they even used Rader Park or Crowder Lake University Park.
