Welcome back, Vintage Days

BIG Hat Days had the community filling the streets of Old Town Clovis for two days during the first week of April.

But starting Friday, the community will be heading to Fresno State for Vintage Days.

The 42nd annual Vintage Days runs Friday, April 15 to Sunday, April 17.

The three-day festival, similar to BIG Hat Days, covers a significant portion of Fresno State — in front of the Satellite Student Union, which is considered Maple Mall, to the Conley Art Building.

Each year, Vintage Days attracts more than 500,000 people. It combines social, cultural and recreational activities through nearly 150 vendors, live entertainment, games and contests, and displays and demonstrations.

But without the unwavering support and dedication of Fresno State students, Vintage Days wouldn’t have evolved into a long-standing tradition.

Josh Edrington has been overseeing Vintage Days for 10 1/2 years. In 1974, along with the help of President Norman A. Baxter, Vintage Days was founded by a group of Fresno State students who wanted to showcase the wonders of Fresno State.

“It was an opportunity for the community to see what Fresno State had to offer,” Edrington said.

At first, Vintage Days evolved as an open house — showcasing various departments as well as schools and colleges.

Edrington said his favorite part about Vintage Days is watching students mingle with the community while enjoying their hard work.

Vintage Days is organized by students through nine committees: Concerts, Boomtown Carnival, Crafts Faire, Development, Marketing, Public Relations, Special Events, Kid’s Zone, and the newly added Open House.

Each committee has two students. In addition to the 18 students, Alexandra Chavez and Cindy Kouyate fill the important roles of student director and assistant student director.

Chavez became involved with Vintage Days as a freshman because she wanted to meet new people and serve the community. Now, as a senior majoring in mass communication and journalism, Chavez leads the pack as student director.

The planning process, which Chavez said has been “very smooth,” starts in August — nearly nine months before the start of Vintage Days.

“The planning process always feels like an adventure,” Kouyate added.

Students meet on a weekly basis to plan, exchange and establish ideas.

“Everyone has unique insights and perceptions of what they want to bring to Vintage Days,” Kouyate said.

Over all, Kouyate said she loves hearing positive feedback from the community. She applied for assistant student director because she “wanted to be a part of something big and unique to Fresno State.”

“There’s a kind of excitement to having to be everywhere at once — making sure volunteers and workers have everything they need, ensuring things are running smoothly,” she said. “And if not, coming up with last-minute solutions.”

As always, Vintage Days will feature vendors and live entertainment. Edrington said vendors come from as far as Oregon, Arizona and Nevada to sell unique, homemade items.

But there will also be staples like Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls, Jay’s Specialty Ice Cream, Dippin’ Dots and Dutch Bros. Coffee.

Live entertainment will be provided by 40 Watt Hype, Ananka Belly Dance Company, DJ Burns and the Artists Association of Fresno.

The first day will launch with a pancake breakfast. A few familiar faces — including Dr. Lynnette Zelezny and Jim Bartko — will be flipping pancakes. If you want to purchase tickets, call (559) 278-2741.

With a huge emphasis on the arts, Fresno State students will demonstrate glassblowing in front of the Conley Art Building. Demonstrations will start at 10 a.m. (and go until 5 p.m.) for the entirety of Vintage Days.

Starting at 8:30 p.m., a showing of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” will be displayed on an outdoor screen.

The second day will start with the popular Sidewalk Art Contest. It will feature Fresno State students displaying their artistic and creative abilities using chalk. Prizes include gift cards to popular local places like Kennel Bookstore and Dutch Bros. Coffee.

The Vintage Challenge, similar to “The Amazing Race,” has participants competing for prizes by completing obstacles.

And prizes have been known to be worthwhile. In 2014, backstage passes to meet country star Blake Shelton were awarded to winners.

Vintage Days runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, April 15 and Saturday, April 16, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, April 17. Admission and parking are free.

Details: www.csufresno.edu/vintagedays.

This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 3:24 PM with the headline "Welcome back, Vintage Days."