The Social Planning and Events Committee's 32nd annual Spring Fling -- Some Fling for Everyone -- officially begins today in the Quadrangle at 11 a.m.
Organizers say they expect upwards of 20,000 people to participate in Fling events throughout the weekend. Weather forecasts predict sunny skies and temperatures reaching into the 60s and 70s.
Wharton junior Elaine Chow said she is excited for this year's Fling.
"In the past, it's been raining," she said. "I'm thinking this year it'll be a lot better, because the weather will be a lot nicer."
College junior Rachel Myers, a co-director of SPEC's Spring Fling Committee, described the upcoming events.
"There are two days full of music in the Quad," she said. "In addition, there are food vendors, so you can get everything from Scoop de Ville ice cream to fried Oreos, cheesesteaks and smoothies."
Among the vendors in Upper Quad are Nestle Butterfinger, Habitat for Humanity and mtvU -- "they have karaoke and giveaways," Myers said.
Students will have the opportunity to bounce, box and battle each other in inflatable activities like the moon bounce, bouncy boxing and the joust -- all perennial Fling favorites.
Bands will play concurrently in both Upper and Lower Quad throughout the weekend. A number of Penn student groups -- including Off the Beat, Dhamaka and Strictly Funk -- are scheduled to perform.
Although today's events in the Quad end at 6 p.m., Grammy Award-winning artist Wyclef Jean will perform at Franklin Field later tonight. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Penn comedy group Mask and Wig will close out Saturday's events in the Quad with an hourlong show beginning at 5 p.m.
But Fling doesn't end there.
From 8 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, Wynn Commons will be the site of the annual Spring Fling Carnival.
Organizers say that at 11 p.m., they will give away free tickets to the Bridge: Cinema de Lux to the first 500 students who display their PennCards.
Myers said that SPEC has been working with the University of Pennsylvania Police to ensure participants' safety.
"There'll be bag checks," she said. "There's a no-container policy. ... And obviously, there'll be an increased security presence in the Quad because of the bigger crowd size."
The two-day event caps off a year of planning by SPEC's student members.
"Everything is student-run and student-planned," Myers said, stressing the Fling Committee's hard work.
"We've been working on this for both semesters, basically -- pretty hardcore," said College senior Jahred Kallop, also a Fling co-director.
"Hopefully, everyone has a good time and enjoys it responsibly," he added.
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