by Morgan Hunter
This past Saturday, Sept. 9, the Wooster Activities Crew (WAC) proved that WAC is back as they hosted another overwhelmingly successful Party on the Green. Students flocked to the Residential Quad for four hours of fun, making memories that will be talked about well into the semester. Unable to make it? Here’s the official recap:
Kicking off at 6 p.m., the Res Quad came to life with students eagerly waiting at check-in. The inflatable obstacle course and jousting were highly anticipated and lines quickly formed. Shouting and cheers of students showing off their brand-new caricatures and air-brushed custom hats (a new addition to the festivities this year) echoed over the music provided by WOO 91. Lemonade, soft pretzels and popcorn made up the snacks for the event, which were a huge hit among attendees. But the party was just getting started.
Soon enough, mystery opener Taylor Acorn took the stage. Originally from small town Westboro, Pennsylvania., Acorn has been on a music journey from country musician to pop punk icon. Complete with her energetic backup band, she played a lengthy set of head-banging rock songs and emotional acoustic tunes, combining her original discography with covers that would make any recovering emo kid swoon. As a special treat, the audience heard music from Acorn’s upcoming EP, “Certified Depressant,” which will be released everywhere on Sept. 22.
After a short break, the headliner Magic Giant took the stage. An alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, Calif. in 2014, Magic Giant has amassed a sizable audience and is known for their high-energy performances on the festival scene. They are also known for being environmentally conscious, as they plant a tree for every copy of their album sold and reduce their environmental impact when touring. Due to these practices, it was Magic Giant’s request that students be given reusable cups for water throughout the night.
Magic Giant did not disappoint. Crowds amassed at the foot of the stage, all trying to steal a closer look at the band. Attendees were blown away by the performance, complete with energetic trumpet solos. To close out the night, Magic Giant came back on for a surprise encore, performing an emotional ballad down in the middle of the audience. It was an extra special night for WAC President Ellen McAllister ’24, as she recounts, “All of my favorite things came together: my favorite band performing at one of the big events that the club that I love so dearly has worked so hard to put on, starting out my senior year of college.”
“[It was] one of the biggest crowds I have seen at any of the large WAC events in the past couple of years,” Mikey Martindale ’25, shared.
As with any big event, there were a lot of moving parts behind the scenes. WAC members and volunteers alike aided in the setup, running and tear-down of the event. One of the key hands in this was Jack Freer ’26, the new music director of WAC. “As a first-time music director, it was a huge honor to see such a big turnout,” he explained. “I was so happy people enjoyed the activities, and I hope to get more great artists in years to come.”
The results are in: Party on the Green was the place to be Saturday night. Be on the lookout for more WAC events just around the corner.