Rating: 9/10

The post-apocalyptic horror sci-fi movie series, “A Quiet Place,” returned to theaters this June with a third installment — “A Quiet Place: Day One,” a prequel to the two-part series. 

“A Quiet Place” tells the story of a young deaf girl and her family as they fight to survive in a world where predatory aliens run rampant. 

In the newly-released prequel, viewers get a first-hand look at the initial “Day One” of the alien invasion, following the main characters, Samira (Lupita Nyong’o), a terminally ill cancer patient and her cat Frodo, along with Eric (Joseph Quinn), a lonely law school student. The characters quickly realize that the aliens are blind and hunt using their adept hearing abilities. 

The movie, like its predecessors, is primarily silent. While the first movie in the franchise relies on American Sign Language (ASL) as its primary mode of communication, the prequel adds a method of conflict, as the characters struggle to communicate without a non-spoken language. 

As the story progresses, the couple ventures through the city, avoiding aliens and near-death experiences at every turn, accompanied by what may be the world’s smartest cat. 

Determined to save her cat, Sam carries him on the journey inside of a tote bag. He becomes a wholesome addition to the cast, with entire scenes following his misadventures. Much to the audience’s surprise, Frodo plays a key role in the story and adds to the tension in the already high-stakes film. 

The movie does a phenomenal job of evoking the sense of fear and uncertainty that horror fans crave without using many extremely violent or gory scenes. With the movie’s setting being in a crowded city, viewers witness the destruction and panic the aliens cause — something that is not as present in the more rural environment of the first two installments. This makes for enjoyable action scenes and more complex attacks. 

The film makes use of similar scare tactics as the first in the series, with moments of intense suspense accompanied by dramatic sound effects and jump scares. The aliens’ ability to quickly run to the source of any slight noise leaves the audience waiting with bated breath at each move that the characters make. 

The movie also delves into deeper themes of life and death alongside the main story. Sam, who has, until this point, essentially been waiting to die in hospice, sees the apocalypse as a way out. However,  Eric is clearly terrified of dying, especially alone. Their opposite outlooks work well together, showing two strong sides of human nature as they embark on their journey. 

Underneath the intense action scenes, the film adeptly builds up the relationship between Eric and Sam as they make their way through the city. With Eric gaining a new appreciation for life, and Sam remembering what it’s like to feel alive again, the film grapples with complex themes of loneliness, fear and loss.

Viewers can easily relate to the fear Eric displays, not wanting to be left alone in the uncertainty of whether or not he will live another day, while also understanding the determination of Sam to die on her own terms. Through this, the film shows the complexity of human desires and motivations and pushes beyond the ‘jump scare’ factor that many horror films profit from. 

Both actors were well-cast for their roles and displayed intense emotions throughout the film despite their limited spoken lines. As the characters progress and learn more about each other, so does the audience, resulting in a genuine emotional connection which only adds to the movie’s powerful drama aspect. 

Overall, the movie serves as a worthy addition to the well-established series. Fans of the original movie and its sequel will no doubt be infatuated with this film as well. With its surprising emotional aspect, viewers will leave the experience not only scared but wiping tears from their eyes. 

jahzara2@dailyillini.com

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Hundreds of phones across the state of Illinois blared with an alert from the National Weather Service on the evening of May 21. The alert warned people of the near zero visibility due to an impending storm blowing dust across multiple interstate highways. 

After the dust storm in April of 2023, which caused a major car crash on I-55, resulting in the deaths of at least six people, the recurring weather phenomenon has become a cause for concern among many residents of the Midwest. 

Andrew Margenot, professor in Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences at the University, drew parallels from today’s weather to the 1930s Dust Bowl. 

“The Dust Bowl was, like, apocalyptic levels of dust. We’re thankfully well away from that.” Margenot said. “Have we gotten better? Yeah, but have we solved it? No, we haven’t.”

According to Margenot, one of the main causes of dust storms is the tilling, or breaking up of the soil, that farmers do in order to plant their crops. 

“Farmers typically till their fields. People have been tilling soil forever, as long as we’ve farmed as a species,” Margenot said.

When loose topsoil from tilling mixes with high wind speeds and dry weather, the soil lifts into the air, resulting in dust storms. These storms are dangerous as the dust can cause low visibility for drivers and damage the respiratory system if inhaled. 

Margenot pointed out that other states, not just Illinois, have been experiencing severe dust storms as well. 

“If you go further west, like North Dakota, South Dakota, they’ve been having serious dust storms,” Margenot said. “But there’s less people there so it’s gotten less attention than out here.”

Robert Hirschfeld, University alumnus and director of water policy of Prairie Rivers Network, an environmentalist nonprofit in Champaign, explained some of the ways farmers can prevent environmental harm. 

“Cover crops are something you could do, buffer strips, windbreaks,” Hirschfeld said. “You know we’ve taken out so many of our breaks and our trees and our buffer strips because the economic incentive is to plant every last available acre in corn and soybeans, and that has to change.”

Cover crops are planted in the off-season to keep the soil fertile and prevent erosion, while buffer strips are planted around the perimeter of a farm to catch the runoff from pesticides and fertilizers. These are measures often used on farms to prevent soil from inadvertently contaminating the surrounding environment. 

Hirschfeld added that he is aware of some of the downsides to these practices, including labor and financial concerns. 

“It can be more work, there can be some expenses,” Hirshfield said. 

Hirschfeld also noted that despite efforts to push for more environmentally conscious farming practices, many farmers are reluctant to change. 

“Some of it is that people don’t want to be told what to do with their land,” Hirschfeld said.  “Part of me understands that, but I don’t want your land blowing onto the interstate. So I think there’s a cultural component there.”

Currently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees a number of voluntary conservation programs. These programs allow for the state government to give farmers funding to help them implement environmental conservation measures on their farms, such as water protection, soil erosion reduction and wetland and wildlife habitat preservation.

Hirschfeld said he believes that these conservation measures are ineffective. 

“We allow it to be voluntary, and we shouldn’t be surprised when people just don’t bother,” Hirschfeld said. “I think we’d be better off making a level playing field where everybody has to abide by the same rules, so it’s not a race to the bottom.” 

However, Margenot said he believes there is too much pressure being placed on the farmers to change their practices. 

“We have to support farmers a little bit more to help them transition,” Margenot said. “On the one hand, farmers till to farm, that’s how we get food… There is no way around that. Can we till differently? Yeah, but that’s not exactly easy.” 

jahzara2@dailyillini.com 

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The University Stock Pavilion was once again teeming with life for the second annual spring plant fair, hosted by the UIUC Horticulture Club. From sunflowers to tomatoes, the event boasted over 2,000 plants, all grown by club members. 

Coinciding with Moms Weekend, the spring plant fair took place on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The free event showcased plants grown by the Horticulture Club and other plant-based student organizations such as Illinois Field and Furrow, the American Society of Landscape Architecture and the Bonsai Society. Most of the plants were up for sale to the public, but others were put on display. 

Amy Bour, sophomore in ACES and public relations manager for the UIUC Horticulture Club, described the event as a space to support the environmental clubs on campus.

“We’re giving them an opportunity to showcase their stuff … like a quad day but make it green,” Bour said. 

The fair also offered several workshops for people interested in learning more about plant care from experts. The workshops were held periodically throughout the day in a partitioned corner of the Pavilion. 

“They’re basically all very educational, but also give you an opportunity to take that education and apply it yourself,” Bour said.  

Event-goers were invited to participate in a “community seed swap” where people could bring unwanted seed packets and trade them in a take-one, leave-one format. 

Plant growers could also sign up to participate in a plant contest. Six winners received varying prizes, with the grand prize being a hydroponics grow system. 

The fair appeared to be a popular Moms Weekend event, with many students bringing their mothers out to shop for plants. 

Katie Hartke, junior in LAS, and her mother Amy Hartke both said they enjoyed coming out to the fair. 

“This is our second time; I made sure to get here earlier so we could get better plants but it was great,” Amy Hartke said. 

Katie Hartke said she liked seeing the plants other college students had grown and thought it was a great way to learn about what is going on in the club. 

The pair gathered several flowers and vegetables to plant in their small home garden. 

“I think it’s a great way to get started on your garden,” Amy Hartke said. 

Overall, Bour said she thought the event was very successful, having sold out their sunflowers within the first few hours. 

“I’m just glad we’re able to provide a space for all sorts of plant lovers, both beginning and experienced, to come and indulge in all the plants,” Bour said. 

jahzara2@dailyillini.com 

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Get ready for a fun-filled night surrounded by statues, paintings and artifacts from around the world. 

The Spurlock Museum is hosting a gala, the first of its kind, entitled “A Night at the Museum” on April 18. Planned by the student Gallery Guides, the event promises a MET Gala-esque experience for all University students. 

Annika Alfaro, a Gallery Guide and sophomore in LAS, said this event is an opportunity for students to dress up and experience the museum in a unique way.  

“I feel like there aren’t a lot of events for students who aren’t in Greek life or are in an RSO to have the ability to dress up and have that formal or semi-formal experience in college,” Alfaro said. “This is really for those students to have that opportunity.”

Ben Maki, junior in LAS, said students are encouraged, but not required to dress in formal attire for the event. 

“Our formal motto is going to be ‘dress to impress,’” Maki said. 

Morgan Paoli, a Gallery Guide and junior in Education, said she hopes this event will bring more visibility to the events and activities Spurlock offers.

“(We wanted) something that celebrates the museum and all of the work that we have, but also celebrates the people that are coming to view the galleries,” Paoli said. 

The Spurlock Museum is a regional center for collections of cultural and archeological artifacts. Located near Illinois Street Residence Hall, Spurlock is home to nine permanent exhibits that represent several global historical cultures. In total, it houses nearly 50,000 artifacts.

In addition, the museum hosts various performances, lectures and activities almost daily for both University students and the general public. 

Paoli said she noticed many students solely visit Spurlock for their classes, and are unaware of the various events and activities the museum hosts. 

“We hope students are able to interact with the space in a way that allows them to mingle with each other and have fun social experiences but also allows them to learn more about the artifacts on display and the different programs we have,” Paoli said. 

The gala will be free for all University students to attend. During the event, students can participate in various activities, such as a scavenger hunt. Food will be provided from Piato Catering including hors d’oeuvres, prosciutto and mock sangria. The music for the event will be DJ’d by DJ TAT. 

jahzara2@dailyillini.com 

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When it comes to self-care in the form of manicures and pedicures, Dazzling Nails is the place to go. Located on East Green Street, Dazzling Nails boasts a cozy and relaxing spa environment. 

Dazzling Nails offers its clients the flexibility of walk-in appointments and low prices compared to its competitors. With a side of gossip from the nail technicians, this space fosters a nice environment to get pampered.

The staff at Dazzling Nails can be counted on to be friendly and kind while providing great customer service. 

Customers can choose from a wide variety of colors and designs. Dazzling Nails also offers many services including acrylic sets, gel manicures and more. 

A highlighted service is a luxury pedicure with scented sugar scrubs and hot stone treatments to leave your feet feeling and looking fresh. 

Visitors to Dazzling Nails can expect to walk out with beautifully decorated and long-lasting nails every time. If you’re looking for a place to relax and feel like royalty on your next spa day, Dazzling Nails has got you covered.  

jahzara2@dailyillini.com

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Curated by Ruby Mendenhall and Florence Adibu, The Black Joy Project at the Spurlock Museum celebrates the resilience and lived experiences of Black women and girls. This project features an art exhibit and various programming held throughout the year.

The exhibit paid special attention to COVID-19 and social unrest after the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others. Alongside the exhibit, scheduled events include performances, business expositions and workshops. 

The exhibit is set to expand and feature more pieces as the year progresses. Several of the displays are interactive and will be completed by visiting patrons. Organizers said these interactive features are meant to reflect the joy present in the community.

Mendenhall, professor in LAS and co-curator of the exhibit, explained what The Black Joy Project meant to her.

“It really to me is a manifestation of a dream … to have something as beautiful as this,” Mendenhall said. “It feels overwhelming but it feels so good, it feels joyful.”

Mendenhall and Adibu were inspired by W. E. B Du Bois’ 1900 Paris Exposition — an exhibition that displayed images of African American children and adults as an effort to combat racism — to curate The Black Joy Project.

In Mendenhall’s speech at the opening reception on Friday, she went into detail about the inspiration for this exhibit.

“The history of Black people in the U.S. is portrayed through the lens of struggle and distress, and that’s an accurate lens, but I’d say it’s an incomplete lens,” Mendenhall said. “There’s joy, resilience, happiness, imagination … we also wanted to represent that.” 

Mendenhall and Adibu collected photographs of Black mothers and their children for the current largest display of the exhibit entitled “Humanity and Joy.”

“We see the world through their eyes … They went out into their world and brought their world to us,” Mendenhall said. 

Another section of the exhibit, “Grief and Loss,” holds paintings made by the artist Keith Jacobs depicting the smiling faces of women who recently lost their children to gun violence. These women were part of a healing circle group led by Adibu.

“We cried, we laughed, we cried again,” Adibu said. 

Several quilts made during the Civil Rights Movement are also on display. Curators said these quilts are meant to represent the resilience, survival and hope of the women who made them during a time of hardship. 

As the year continues, curators said the project will continue to grow. Anyone can visit the exhibit at Spurlock Museum during visiting hours to view The Black Joy Project until Dec. 1.

“I want people to think about in their own lives what brings them joy, especially during difficult times and hopefully this can be some inspiration for that,” Mendenhall said.

jahzara2@dailyillini.com

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The month of December is recognized in the U.S. as National Cat Lovers Month. Celebrating an individual’s cat this month may be an essential part of the cold season. Cat owners may buy their cats a new toy or some catnip and show extra gratitude for their furry friends.

Cats have been human companions since ancient Egyptian times and are one of the most popular types of pets. Statistics show one of the most popular cat breeds in recent years in the U.S. is the ragdoll, with the Cat Fanciers’ Association naming the ragdoll as the number one most popular breed in 2021.

Ragdoll cats are known for their fluffy coats and laid-back demeanor. Ragdoll cats love to play and be held, which could make them a good option for families with young children. 

Azariah Sutherland, senior in LAS, lives in an apartment with two cats named Cleo and Harlow and explained why she thinks cats are good pets. 

“They have such personalities,” Sutherland said. “They’re like little people, but they’re not, and you have to take care of them. When you compare them to dogs, they’re really independent, but they still have the fervor of a dog that loves you.” 

Sutherland said spending quality time with her cats brings forth positivity in her life. 

“My favorite thing is taking naps with them, it’s really peaceful,” Sutherland said. “It feels like a really warm and happy environment.” 

Like dogs, cats enjoy playing games with their owners. One game most pet owners are familiar with is fetch. Although typically reserved for dogs, cats can also enjoy this energizing game. 

“I didn’t even need to teach Cleo to play fetch, she just does it on her own,” Sutherland said. “She likes these tinsel balls; I’ll throw it and she’ll bring it back.”

Nowadays, the technology at our fingertips can be extended to your four-legged companion. Many game developers have put out various pet-friendly games that you can download for your cat to play. These games pair well with iPads and large tablets.

For aspiring or beginner cat owners, options for cat toys are vast. It can be hard to choose what cat toys to buy and guess which toy the cat will enjoy instead of ignoring.

“Don’t purchase anything unless you know the cat likes it,” Sutherland said. “I had like a whole box of toys Harlow did not use. It depends on the cat. For example, Harlow is very mellow, she prefers little feather toys. Cleo, who’s younger and more energetic, prefers any kind, most of the time toys with little bells.” 

Amy Fischer, professor in ACES, shared the importance of providing specific toys that pique a cat’s interest. 

“Cats have amazing imaginations, they are historically predators so any toy that gives them the opportunity to be a cat and exhibit species-specific behaviors, whether that’s pouncing, stretching or climbing,” Fischer said. “I personally like the cat dancer toy because they leap and they chase it and are stimulated by it.”

Additionally, Fischer expressed the need for enrichment, particularly for indoor cats. 

“Understand that they need to be stimulated, they need so much in their environment to help them engage,” Fischer said. “People think they’re easy pets and that you can just leave food down and go about your business, but they really do benefit from more interaction and more consideration of their enrichment.”

Cats can be known for their occasional destructive behavior, with thousands of social media videos showcasing cats’ playful mischievous nature.  It can be tough figuring out how to discipline such independent animals. Cats can be discipline-trained, although it may be a bit more difficult. 

“I do training,” Sutherland said. “I’ve been training them to sit and come and give me their paw and stay. It’s a lot of work, but I think I’m doing good on progress.”

Fischer offered tips for preventing unwanted or aggressive behaviors from cats. 

“First of all, you would look at what’s causing (the behavior),” Fischer said. “What is in the animal’s environment that might be causing them to react. Look at what might be stressing them out and see if you can change that for them.” 

There are also behavior-specific training techniques individuals can practice with their cats, such as desensitization and counterconditioning to try and weed out bad behavior. 

In addition to environmental factors, there is always a possibility of underlying medical issues being responsible for a cat’s behavior. 

“You always want to rule out any medical problem,” Fischer said. “When animals don’t feel well, they might lash out through biting or aggression.” 

It can be difficult to tell when a cat might need to see a veterinarian if the owner is not highly knowledgeable about typical pet behavior. Fischer explained how to spot the telltale signs a cat might be sick. 

“Cats are very stoic so we don’t always see them displaying outward signs, it’s going to be more subtle,” Fischer said. “A lot of the postures they exhibit might tell us that they’re not feeling well. Any change in how much they’re sleeping, interacting with you, vocalizing, any change that you can’t explain might tell you that he needs to go to the vet.” 

Fischer recommended cat owners check out the Fear Free website to learn more about their animals. 

“Fear Free is kind of this movement that helps us really appreciate what animals are trying to communicate,” Fischer said. “That website walks cat and dog owners through, ‘If my cat has a certain body posture what does that mean?’…. Whether their ears are down, whether their tail is down, whether their hair is puffed, everything means something.” 

Fischer offered advice to first-time cat owners about the importance of acknowledging the large responsibility committing to a pet could be. 

“Always do your research, as with any animal,” Fischer said. “Understand what your animal is going to need, what their species-specific behaviors are and do your best to recreate that in your home. Let your cat tell you what (they) like.”

jahzara2@dailyillini.com 

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Get ready for a night of traditional Indonesian food, dance and games at the University YMCA. PERMIAS, also recognized as the Indonesian Students Association, will hold a traditional night market event this weekend called Pasar Malam. 

Pasar Malam will take place on Saturday from 5-9 p.m. It is free entry to participate in games and to view performances. Students can buy food tickets for $5 and there will also be free samples while supplies last. 

Scott Abednego, sophomore in Business and the event organizer, said this event is for all students to attend.

“This is an opportunity for us to branch out,” Abednego said. “We also want the Indonesian community to meet other people. Essentially, this is a gathering event.” 

Pasar Malam has been an annual fundraising event for PERMIAS, allowing them to keep the club functioning to hold subsequent events. The group hopes the other registered student organizations will also be able to garner funds from the event. 

“We’re trying to make this event an opportunity for other RSOs to have fundraising,” said Aisha Tanjung, junior in ACES and the current PERMIAS president. “For us, we are essentially using our profits to make the next event.”

Abednego stressed the importance of events similar to Pasar Malam.

“These things help keep our RSO running,” Abednego said. 

The event will consist of various activities, as well as performances showcasing traditional Indonesian dance and culture. 

This year PERMIAS will co-host the event with the Hong Kong Students Association, the Philippine Students Association and the Association of Food Technologists. 

“Since we’re inviting other RSOs from different countries to our event, we want to get to know and make bonds with them,” Abednego said. “This is the first time we’re having an event together.”

There will be several booths selling student-made Indonesian entrees, drinks and desserts, while also including foods from the other RSOs. Aneka Market, a traditional Indonesian restaurant based in Chicago, will be catering the event as well. 

“We try to make each booth have different specialties so that everyone can get a taste of something,” Tanjung said. 

The full menu is available on the club’s Instagram page, @permiasuiuc. 

Tanjung hopes this event will educate people about Indonesia and bring together different students’ cultures. 

“We want (people) to know the Indonesian culture and to introduce them to it … It’s just kind of a fun thing to introduce to people,” Tanjung said. 

jahzara2@dailyillini.com 

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In the age of technology, with social media and TV providing an endless stream of content, some people may find it difficult to unplug and read a book for a change. PangoBooks claims to be an app dedicated to changing modern attitudes toward reading. 

PangoBooks is an app that allows users to discover new reads as well as sell books they’ve already read, keeping a rotating library of books at their fingertips. 

The app aims to merge the hobby of reading with an online marketplace in a style meant to feel personal to its users. 

The app offers an outlet for users to discover new books based on their interests and then buy those books from its sellers. 

Dan Orkin, head of marketing and customer experience at PangoBooks, believes the nuance the app brings to bookselling is its accessibility and personal flair.  

“I think our differentiating factor is just the ease of selling, and then really the app is just designed in such a way that it’s supposed to feel a bit more social like you’re connecting with other people directly as opposed to buying a faceless emporium,” Orkin said. 

The inspiration for the app came from Grant Singleton, a father trying to sell picture books his children had grown out of. 

“He was sort of weighing the different options for selling books as an individual online and found that (the options) were really lacking,” Orkin said. “Some of the bigger players, you know, Amazon being the most obvious example, really catered more towards professional operations and retailers.” 

PangoBooks is meant to be designed for the average person looking to grow their shelves or to pass on books they no longer need or want.

“Really everything in the app has been engineered for that type of person,” Orkin said. “It all kind of comes from that initial idea that we could really build something as engaging and easy to use as possible.” 

Many students at the University enjoy reading as a pastime. Although they keep a busy schedule, they value making time for books. 

Wren Dulnev, sophomore in LAS, mentioned the positive ways reading affects them.

“I love (reading),” Dulnev said. “It just takes me to a different place and it gets my mind off things. I think it’s a good break from being on screens all the time.”

Ella Mixer, freshman in LAS, shared similar thoughts with Dulnev about reading.

“I feel like it’s a nice break from my schoolwork without being super unproductive,” Mixer said.

One particular struggle that some people express about reading is figuring out what book they want to read next. 

“(Using PangoBooks) would give me more options,” Mixer said. “A lot of the time when I’m in between books I’ll have to wait for a recommendation from friends.”

The PangoBooks app also includes a feature called HeyPango, an artificial intelligence tool that allows users to find books they may be interested in based on their preferences and previous reads. 

“HeyPango is sort of like a book recommendation bot,” Orkin said. “So you can say something like, ‘Oh, the last book I loved was ‘Fourth Wing,’ what’s another great book?’ I think by making it really easy for people to discover books, they find great value in the books they’re buying.” 

Orkin also noted the human feature PangoBooks could add to buying and selling books may create positive interpersonal connections compared to other methods of swapping books. He believed this was what could make the app a unique tool. 

“What we see a lot of times is that people will message a buyer and say, ‘If you’re interested in this one then you might be interested in this one too’ and that kind of thing,” Orkin said. “You can follow other sellers and get alerts on books for sale. So, if you see somebody who has a similar taste in books to you, they might list other books you’re interested in.”

The opportunity to sell old books through PangoBooks sparked the interest of Dulnev. 

“I have 10 books that I don’t think I’m gonna read ever and I have a bunch I have read that’s just taking space on my shelf,” Dulnev said. “It would probably encourage me to read books so that I could sell them and get money.” 

PangoBooks invites University students to give their app a try. Using the code WELCOME will give first-time users $5 off their first purchase of $20 or more. 

“I think books are meant to be read, but also sort of allowing people to celebrate the idea of collecting and searching and finding a certain copy of a book or cool cover, encourages people to be more engaged with reading as part of the hobby experience as well,” Orkin said.

jahzara2@dailyillini.com

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The Developmental Services Center’s 10th annual Oktoberfest fundraiser brought together the Champaign-Urbana community for a night full of live music, beer, food and supporting a good cause. 

The fest, held Sept. 30, from 3-10 p.m. on the corner of North Neil and East Washington streets in downtown Champaign, included alcohol from local breweries, food trucks, a kids zone and live music from the traditional German bands Die Musikmiesters and The Polkaholics. 

According to their website, the DSC is a nonprofit organization with a long history of providing services and support to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and currently serves approximately 1,200 people in Champaign and Ford counties.

“They put on an amazing event, stages with live music, food trucks, multiple beer vendors. I mean this thing is just huge. It compares very favorably to any other Oktoberfest in the area,” said Darren Riggs, one of the vendors at Oktoberfest.

Jan Aten, a DSC volunteer, said many are drawn to the fest because of the alcohol, but also because it allocates resources to those in need.

“The beer first, but this is also a very good cause that serves a lot of people … and the majority of their funding I think comes from donation and their fundraisers,” Aten said.

The fundraiser housed a variety of traditional German beers, as well as traditional German food sold from local food trucks. Some of the food trucks present were Watson’s Chicken, Smithburger Food Line and Ice Daddy’s Frozen Treats.

Oktoberfest attendees over 21-years-old could buy a commemorative 10th-anniversary mug to hold their beer. One of the most popular selections of beer appeared to be the seasonal “Oktoberfest” beer, brewed by the locally sourced Riggs Beer Company, owned by brothers Darren Riggs and Matt Riggs. 

The “Oktoberfest” beer was in high demand, and Riggs said preparation included setting aside enough kegs of the beer for the event.

The Riggs Brew Company has a history rooted in German beer-making, as they have studied the craft there. Darren Riggs explained Oktoberfest was a good way to showcase their abilities.

“I think (Oktoberfest) is a great opportunity to support local businesses,” Said Riggs. “Also, to kind of be a central gathering place for people to celebrate a fun German tradition.” 

Many community members walked around with a commemorative stein — a large glass mug — in one hand, and a Bavarian pretzel or chicken schnitzel in the other. 

Once Oktoberfest-goers had paid the $10 entrance fee, they were greeted with tables selling tickets for food and drinks, as well as a merchandise table including sweatshirts, T-shirts and bandanas. According to Oktoberfest, a portion of the proceeds goes to support DSC’s mission.

In one of the tents, people were eating, talking and dancing to the live music performed by Die Musikmeisters and The Polkaholics. The music ranged from traditional German music to popular hits like “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond. 

In front of the musicians, there was a dance floor that many attendees used.

One of the focuses of traditional Oktoberfest is the beer, which can exclude a younger population from participating in the festivities. However, Oktoberfest possessed a “Kid Zone” which included activities such as pumpkin painting, a bounce house and several fall-themed games. 

Dave Markun, a musician, walked around the event and played the button box harmonika. Markun said he’s been playing the traditional German instrument for 18 years. 

“It’s an unusual instrument, so being able to walk around and getting people to sing and things — it’s a fun thing for them,” Markun said. “I think people get into it too, being here at Oktoberfest, it’s very festive.”  

As Markun played his buttonbox, people stopped what they were doing to listen. Children even ran and danced in circles around him.

Jade Merrit and Anna Ashton, graduate students in the Curriculum and Instruction Program, were both first-time Oktoberfest attendees. 

“My favorite part is getting to see all of the different outfits,” Ashton said. “You can really see who’s been enjoying these festivals for a while and who might be a first-time enjoyer like we are.”

Several community members, including Markun, were dressed in traditional German clothing. 

Champaign resident Betsy Waller said she spent 40 hours making her traditional dirndl, a German dress typically worn by women. 

Waller said that in addition to getting an excuse to dress up in costume, Oktoberfest is a great place for people to enjoy the community, try German beer and raise money for the DSC.

Matt Mager, another Champaign resident and University alum, was dressed in lederhosen, the traditional German outfit for men. 

Emma Lachs, University alum and current Champaign resident, said she believed events like Oktoberfest are important because of the sense of community.

“I feel like, without that, people get very lonely and this is a really great opportunity to go and immerse yourself,” Lachs said. 

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