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The sun beat down on Risman Plaza today as Kent State students crowded together at the 26th annual Black Squirrel Festival.

More than 40 venders sold wares as various as oil paintings, beaded necklaces, T-shirts and knit moccasins. An estimated 4,500 students sifted through the merchandise, according to event sponsor Kent Student Center Programming.

Groups in attendance at the festival included activists Ohioans to Stop Execution, Faith Lutheran Campus Ministry, Chipotle, FedEx and the Undergraduate Student Senate, which aimed to register students to vote.

A crowd of students stood fixed in front of the stage throughout much of the day as bands such as Annabel, Red Sun Rising, Speedbumps and Lotus Groove entertained the festival crowd. Others played cornhole and enjoyed free items given away by vendors.

George Anderson, junior music composition major, was one of many students at the festival.

“I’m done with classes so I just came out to check out the music,” Anderson said. “It’s cool. It’s still summer, so it’s cool to have a big outdoor event like this.”

Contact news correspondent Jenna Staul at [email protected].