Music festivals pop up left and right during the spring; this year, WKU’s Chi Omega sorority is hosting a music festival for a good cause.

The Chi Os are hosting their first-ever ChiOchella, a music festival-themed philanthropy event based on the popular music festival Coachella.

“ChiOchella is a music festival Chi Omega is hosting to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation,” Louisville sophomore Anna Lawson, co-chairwoman of auditions and lineup, said. “We are really excited because this is our first year doing it. Hopefully we can raise some money for Make-A-Wish and have a really fun event for everyone at the same time.”

This event comes as a first-time philanthropy function for the Chi Os thanks to an idea from a member.

“One of our sisters, Isabel Gott, had the idea to have a fun music festival to showcase WKU’s talent,” Chi O President Miranda Holcomb, Georgetown sophomore, said.

Louisville sophomore Mandie Shircliff, the Chi Os’ ChiOchella chair, said a chapter of the sorority in Texas holds a similar event and inspired WKU’s chapter to try it. Shircliff said her chapter was interested in starting new, unique philanthropy events this year and hopes to continue ChiOchella in the future.

“We are putting a lot on the line with it being our first year, so we hope it pays off,” Shircliff said.

The event’s goal is to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Chi Omega’s philanthropy.

“We are hoping to find a local child to sponsor and get to know within the year,” Shircliff said.

The lineup was formalized by a committee formed within the sorority and includes bands such as Wilder, Heathen Sons, Noble Giants, Tori Lynch and Maddi Will.

“I was in charge of contacting bands and making the lineup, so my favorite part was listening to the bands and getting to hear some really great music that I probably wouldn’t have otherwise,” Lawson said.

Shircliff said the best part was seeing members getting involved to put on the new event.

“The best part was seeing how many Chi Os came together to help me. I had about 35 girls say they wanted a part in it, and they have all contributed a great amount. It is fun watching all of the plans come together,” Shircliff said.

One of the biggest differences between ChiOchella and other philanthropy events on campus is that its lineup strives to showcase talent in the WKU community.

“We want as much diversity as we can,” Holcomb said. “We want this to be a fun event where students are able to enjoy great music, good company and, of course, food.”

Lawson said students can get involved just by attending the event. Ticket prices start at $5 for presale and $8 at the gate. At time of publication it was announced ChiOchella had been moved to Saturday at noon, according to their Twitter.