Tigerfest 2022 brought to you by a women-led Campus Activities Board
Along with annual concert in SECU Arena, Tigerfest will feature a week of events on campus
By Phaedran Linger '22 on April 13, 2022
The first in-person Tigerfest since 2019 is coming to campus on Thursday, April 28, at SECU Arena, featuring headliners Rico Nasty and Flo Milli. It is sponsored by Towson University’s student-led Campus Activities Board (CAB).
Tigerfest is TU’s annual spring festival that offers a week of diverse activities, including an on-campus concert at the end of the week.
This year’s theme is “ROARing loud,” playing off the popular hip-hop music festival, Rolling Loud. This year’s concert has its own theme, “MoneyFest,” since the artists perform a song together called “Money.”
Both Tigerfest and CAB have something in common this year, with the concert lineup and the executive board consisting of all women.
Avery Walton is the director of CAB and a senior majoring in mass communications. Walton joined CAB because she wants a career in event planning and saw the organization as a great opportunity to gain experience and get behind-the-scenes knowledge of event planning.
“I’m very excited for our first in-person Tigerfest,” she says. “This is the week where everyone wants to be on campus.”
Walton says event planning has a lot more moving parts than the average person is aware of. The team started planning this year's Tigerfest in October so they were ahead of the game.
CAB began by surveying students about artists who fit an established budget. Then, the team talked to agents and worked through the artists’ schedules. After that, they dove into establishing a theme to make sure everything is cohesive.
“It’s exhausting because of all the small details,” Walton says. “But I’m excited for the execution of it. I love getting confirmation from the artist and doing the big reveal. All of these niche things that come together.”
For Walton, being a woman leader gained her some perspective on gender roles in the business realm.
“Sometimes people still think it’s okay to talk over me and push me aside,” she says. “[Being on the executive board] has been a great confidence booster, and it’s beautiful to be on a board of all women. We’re definitely setting the standard for women in leadership on campus.”
Walton says the CAB team has put in hard work to execute the festival. They each have a critical role to play in the formation of the event as well as their own creative ideas that make each element special.
Kerra Kingston is the assistant director of programming. She believes CAB is so good at what they do because, “students know what students want.”
While Kingston feels being on an all-woman board is something that should be normalized, she notes that the experience has been something that’s comfortable, fun and has created new bonds.
“We get stuff done. We’re women,” she says.
Tom Judd is the adviser for CAB and works alongside the students in planning events. He is especially proud of this year's team because after COVID-19, CAB had to relaunch themselves.
“The fact that Tigerfest is happening in a bigger and better way than ever before is super impressive. It speaks to how passionate and skilled they are. It shows their women empowerment and that women can and should be expected to do this,” Judd says.
After two years without an in-person Tigerfest, CAB members say they are eager to re-engage students in the campus community, so they can have memories from their time at TU.
Doors open at 7 p.m., and the concert starts at 8 p.m. with tickets are now on sale. And while the annual concert is the headline event, this year’s Tigerfest features a fun event each day of the week. Here is a complete schedule for this year’s Tigerfest:
Saturday, April 23
Light It Up
Towsontown Field | 7 p.m.
TU’s unique take on a Glow Party, that will feature dancing, lights and good vibes.
Sunday, April 24
Carnival Day
Lot 11 | 1-5 p.m.
A special on-campus carnival featuring games, food, bubble soccer, inflatables and
more.
Monday, April 25
Glow, Glow Everything
University Union Ballrooms | 6 - 9 p.m.
A glow in the dark silent disco and mini golf.
Tuesday, April 26
Cab-cade
University Union Ballrooms | 7 - 9 p.m.
An arcade event that features arcade games, laser tag, food and prizes.
Wednesday, April 27
“Block Party”
Tiger Plaza & Towson Field | 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The annual on-campus block party featuring a DJ, food, moon bounce, gladiator joust,
games and more.
Thursday, April 28
“MoneyFest”
SECU Arena | 8 p.m.
The annual on-campus spring concert, featuring some of the biggest names in music.
This year’s headliners are Rico Nasty and Flo Milli.
Friday, April 29
“Brunchin With CAB”
West Village Ballrooms | 1-3 p.m.
All you can eat brunch from chicken and waffles to French toast.