Gajjda Bhangra (pictured above) was one of the many student organizations who performed at Geneseo’s first ever Fall Fest that took place in the Union Ballroom on Thursday Oct. 11. The event consisted of various musical performances, food trucks and fall-themed activities. (Annie Renaud/Staff photographer)
Students gathered in the Union Ballroom on Thursday Oct. 11 to socialize and enjoy a night of fun-filled activities and performances organized by the Geneseo Campus Activities Board and Geneseo Late Knight.
The fresh scent of fluffy popcorn, the colorful cotton candy, the deliciously warm donuts and the arts and crafts contributed to the good vibes of Geneseo’s first Fall Fest.
With different assortments of seasonal food provided by various food trucks, as well as the artistic pumpkin painting available in the Union, each student could find an activity to their liking.
The beginning of the night featured student organization performances by Between the Lines, Exit 8, Emmelodics, Hips ‘N Harmony, Knightline, Bhangra and Gestures: Organization of Deaf Awareness. Each of these groups performed unique routines and engaged the audience in their performances.
Many students enjoyed Fall Fest, especially the opportunity to socialize. History major freshman Jessica Benedetto enjoyed Fall Fest, particularly for the social aspect.
“I think it’s a really good opportunity to get out of the room and to meet people,” Benedetto said. “I think it’s really effective, I really like the events that they brought here [and] I like the food too, it’s pretty cool.”
The headliner of the event, business administration major senior Austin Yarton, participated on Blake Shelton’s team while on the show “The Voice,” singing under the name Austin Giorgio.
While on the NBC show, Giorgio advanced to become one of the final 24 singers left. At the student-organized event, he sang several cover songs as well as a few of his own originals. He stole the heart of each audience member with his smooth, soft voice.
After his performance, Giorgio met with students to take pictures and engage in brief conversation.
“It was super rewarding to come back to a school that means so much to me and I’m so glad to meet so many people here tonight,” Giorgio said. “I will say I was upset that there was no more cider, but it was great to be here in Geneseo. I love Geneseo.”
Additionally, Giorgio briefly spoke about his experience on “The Voice,” providing a few words of encouragement and advice to students who may choose to pursue a career in singing.
“So simply put, ‘The Voice’ is like college for singers. It was a lot of learning lessons,” Giorgio said. “I advise anyone that wants to try it to do it because I was very insecure about my voice … and then I just started doing it, so you should try it.”
With the large turnout of students and the array of engaging seasonal activities, Geneseo’s first ever Fall Fest was a success. Students undoubtedly enjoyed the fall-themed food and activities, as well as the social opportunities and artistic excellence.