Students gathered in the Gilbert and McLean lawns Tuesday at 3 p.m. for Valleypalooza, an annual block party hosted by WKU Housing and Residence Life.

Valleypalooza began in 1993 to help alleviate stress surrounding the end of the semester, and went on hiatus in 2020 before returning in 2023.

This year’s event featured several activities for attendees, including yard games, a dunk tank and a tie-dye booth with handkerchiefs and tote bags.

Valleypalooza also provided refreshments, including cotton candy served by HRL, and ice cream trucks from Chaney’s Dairy Barn and Rita’s Italian Ice, all of which were free to attendees.

Carmen Waylin, a freshman communication disorders major, joined in the event’s activities while passing through the area.

“I saw a bunch of people talking and being united and a bunch of different groups mixing,” Waylin said. “Just seeing people talking and conversing on a sunny day, it really enticed me.”

Lime Headlund, a freshman robotics major, found the event in a similar way to Waylin.

“I saw an email about it, and then I just so happened to drive up at 3:15 in the afternoon and saw everything out,” Headlund said. “I was like, ‘Sure, why not? Free stuff!’”

Headlund appreciated the free refreshments and enjoyed the cotton candy, but lamented the lack of t-shirts at the tie-dye booth.

Waylin enjoyed her time with the dunk tank and hopes that future events will receive better promotion.

“I had no clue about this until I walked by, so I hope in the future they’ll put more signs out to promote it,” Waylin said.