The Black Squirrel Festival will be held between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. tomorrow in Risman Plaza. This will be the 24th year for the festival.

Things to look forward at the festival include live music, food, games, giveaways, vendors and a hot dog eating contest.

“About 18,000 people walked through last year,” said Stacey Stewart, programming student manager for the Student Center. “We’re hoping to top that this year.”

Friday’s performers will include: Audible Thread, Ephedra, First Act, Godot, 20goto10 and 2 Man Suitcase.

An afterparty will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Eastway Center. Students can look forward to a cookout, more giveaways, more performances and an outdoor screening of the movie Shaun of the Dead.

When the festival was created, students wanted a name unique to Kent State, said Jackie Parsons, executive director of the Student Center and Dining Services. The university’s black squirrels were an obvious choice.

Some students who’ve attended previous years are looking forward to it again this year.

“There was all handmade stuff like silver jewelry and purses that you can’t find anywhere else,” sophomore business major Angie Mass said. “You meet a lot of new people there, too, especially if you’re a freshman. It’s just fun.”

— Olivia Mihalic