Inside Iowa State: Iowa State University

April 16, 2004

Flapjacks, floats and lots of fun at Veishea

This rock climb, on central campus, signaled a start to this year's Veishea activities. Opening ceremonies are at noon Friday south of the campanile. Photo by Bob Elbert.

Veishea begins its 83rd year with time-honored traditions and new twists.

Veishea officially begins at noon Friday (April 16) with opening ceremonies south of the campanile. Keynote speaker Patty Judge, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, will join President Gregory Geoffroy, vice president for student affairs Tom Hill, and James Melsa, dean of the College of Engineering and Veishea parade grand marshal, at Friday's event.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture since 1998, Judge is the first woman to hold the position. She previously served as a ranking member of the Iowa Senate Agriculture Committee and on the Natural Resources, Appropriations and Ways and Means committees.

Taste of Veishea, featuring food vendors and games, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, Welch Avenue, Campustown. The annual "Battle of the Bands" competition begins there at 2 p.m. Friday and continues until midnight.

Comedians Mark Curry and Horatio Sanz will headline Veishea's annual "Dew the Rec" comedy show on Friday, April 16, at 9 p.m. at Lied Recreation Center. Curry is best known for his starring role in the 1990s ABC sitcom Hanging with Mr. Cooper. Funnyman Sanz, whose impressions include Ozzy Osbourne, Elton John and Gene Shalit, is in his sixth season as a cast member of Saturday Night Live. Sanz and three guests will act out an improvised piece; Curry will perform a stand-up routine. Tickets are $10 for Iowa State students and $15 for the general public, and are on sale at the Memorial Union hotel desk, first floor. Tickets purchased the day of the event will be $18.

Stars Over Veishea and ISU Theatre present Fiddler on the Roof at Stephens Auditorium. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 16, and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 17. Tickets range from $8 to $18 and are available through Ticketmaster and the Iowa State Center box office.

Pancakes on parade
The annual Veishea pancake breakfast will be held from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday south of the campanile. The cost is $5. Hold on to your plate -- pancake flippers from Chris Cakes will travel the Veishea parade route by cart, offering second and third helpings.

A benefit silent auction on Saturday will be held on central campus from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Veishea Scholarship Fund for high school seniors.

The Veishea parade's elaborate floats, balloons and festive bands will begin their route through campus at 10:40 a.m. on Saturday. If you can't join the crowd of 75,000 watching the parade in person, KDSM-TV (FOX 17) will air a delayed broadcast of the parade at 2 p.m. Saturday. Star 102.5 FM, Des Moines, will air live cut-ins from the Veishea parade.

Veishea's traditional cherry pies will be on sale ($1 each) Friday (9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.) and Saturday (9:30 a.m. until gone) in 16 MacKay Hall. More than 8,000 cherry pies are sold during Veishea weekend.

Veishea 2004
"Dare To Discover"
April 16-18 (partial list of events)
4-1026

Friday April 16

9-11 a.m., Community float tours, Greek neighborhoods south of campus, tours depart from 201 Gray Ave.
9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Cherry pie sales, $1, 16 MacKay.
10 a.m.-2 a.m., Taste of Veishea, food vendors, games, Welch Avenue.
11 a.m.-2 p.m., College of Engineering Day, free food with button, central campus.
12:15-1 p.m., Opening ceremonies, speaker, Patty Judge, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, central campus.
2 p.m.-midnight, Battle of the Bands, Welch Avenue.
7:30-10 p.m., Performance, Stars Over Veishea, Fiddler On The Roof, $8-$18, Stephens.
9 p.m.-midnight, Performance, Dew the Rec, Mark Curry and Horatio Sanz, comedians, $10-$18, Lied Center.

Saturday April 17

7:30-11:30 a.m., Pancake breakfast, $5, central campus.
7:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Silent auction, benefits Veishea scholarship fund for high school seniors, central campus.
9 a.m.-5 p.m., Open houses, colleges and departments, throughout campus.
9 a.m.-5 p.m., Cy's Big Top (1-5 p.m., kiddie carnival), central campus.
9 a.m.-5 p.m., Cultural festival, displays and performances, Campanile Room, MU.
9:30 a.m., Cherry pie sales, $1, until gone, 16 MacKay.
10 a.m.-2 a.m., Taste of Veishea, see April 16.
10 a.m-4 p.m. International food fair, $2-$7, Great Hall, MU.
10:40 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Veishea parade, campus route from the Armory to the Memorial Union via Lagomarcino, Bessey, LeBaron and Beardshear halls.
12:30-4:30 p.m., Village Square Stage, music, dance, skits and demonstrations, central campus.
1:30-4 p.m., Canoe joust, Lake LaVerne.
2 p.m., Performance, Stars Over Veishea, see April 16.
2 p.m.-2 a.m., Taste of Veishea, see April 16.
3 p.m., Tour, Stanton Memorial Carillon (2:30 p.m. concert), free, central campus.
7 p.m.-2 a.m., Harambee Celebration, Great Hall, MU.
7:30-10 p.m., Performance, Stars Over Veishea, see April 16.

Sunday April 18

8 a.m.-3 p.m., Golf tournament, 4-person best ball, $35 per person, Coldwater Golf Course, 615 S.16th St.
3-4:30 Closing ceremonies, Sun Room, MU.