Silent Disco returns for a Second Year

Since the beginning of the new academic year, Minnesota State’s Student Events Team has served up popular events filled with music, food, prizes and memories. 

And now, more fun comes as Silent Disco made its return Saturday on the Preska Lawn and featured carnival games.

Sponsored by The Summit and Jacob Heights, the event allowed students to dance their stress away under the stars while listening to music through neon headsets. Music was played through three separate stations that everyone could choose from: throwbacks, Top 40 hits, and international favorites. 

Mavericks After Dark Chair Janat Kazibwe shared how, due to the event’s popularity last fall semester, the team and herself decided to bring it back for a second year. 

“It happened a week before Thanksgiving break, and the turnout was amazing. People heard about it and they wanted to have it again while they’re around. So we did it again but this time outside,” Kazibwe said. 

With the location change, Kazibwe explained how the team worked together to add carnival games to the event, expanding it more and giving students an opportunity to win prizes.

“Last year it was in a ballroom so we figured why not make it a silent disco-type carnival? So we came up with these amazing prizes to give out to people, and different kinds of games to just make it more like a carnival. So just to bring it more to life, like that kind of summer feeling, because we’re going into winter again,” she said. 

Kazibwe said it’s possible silent disco could return next fall. 

“I brought it back for the first time in so many years. It hadn’t been happening in a while. So usually I try to be innovative and bring back different ideas. But there’s specific events that have such an amazing turnout that the students love so we do it again,” Kazibwe said. “If we get good feedback from this and people want it again, it’s all about the students having a good time. So if people would like to have it again, who knows? Maybe we will do it again next year.”

Freshmen Hailey Woods and Brianna Michels attended their very first silent disco together and also participated in the carnival games. 

“There’s a lot of stations so it’s a lot to change back to. Maybe like five minutes or 10 minutes but it’s like every song we’ve been switching. They’re all like everywhere.” Woods said. 

“We played all of the games and won a few prizes. It would actually be cool to have this come back again,” Michels said. 

With the fall semester picking up its pace, Kazibwe revealed that a big after-dark event will be announced later in the following months. 

“We do have one towards the end of the semester. We’ll get into that but right now it’s kind of on the down low. But, you’ll be hearing about it. We do have something for you guys,” Kazibwe said. 

For more information on more upcoming events, visit mnsu.edu/StudentEventsTeam 

Photo Caption: Sponsored by The Summit and Jacob Heights, the event allowed students to dance their stress away under the stars while listening to music through neon headsets. (Alexis Darkow/The Reporter)

Write to Anahi Zuniga at anahi.zuniga@mnsu.edu