Packapalooza Returns to Cap Off Wolfpack Welcome Week

August 31, 2022 phsmith

The Memorial Belltower at night, illuminated in red with lots of students at the bottom

On Saturday, Aug. 27, students, faculty, staff and members of the Raleigh community flocked to Hillsborough Street for the 2022 edition of Packapalooza™. The popular festival marked its 10th anniversary and returned to the Wolfpack Welcome Week schedule for the first time since 2019.

More than 80,000 people attended this year’s event. Additionally, hundreds of vendors and performers were on hand and delighted the crowds, featuring musical headliner American Aquarium. There were also plenty of special guests, including Abby Lampe, NC State’s international cheese-rolling champion, who signed autographs and cut her prized cheese wheel on stage before throwing samples to the crowd. Per tradition, the night ended with a fireworks display and the illumination of the Memorial Belltower in red.

See more photos from Packapalooza here:

Packapalooza was the grand conclusion of NC State’s 2022 Wolfpack Welcome Week, but participation numbers were also high at other signature events this year, including:

First-Year and Transfer Orientation: 6,803
University Housing Move-in: 8,981
Moonlight Howl and Run: 2,887
Talley Takeover: 2,500
New Student Convocation: 3,500
RecFest: 8,500
Chillin’ and Grillin’ with IFC/IRC: 1,500
Black Students Board Back 2 School Jam: 750
Student Involvement Fair: 2,000.

This post was originally published in DASA.