Wares Fair continues in new location despite Fire Up Fest not being held this year

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Freebies, food, raffles and coupons will be found Wednesday at Wares Fair but there will be a few changes from years past.

While students normally expect to experience Fire Up Fest during Wares Fair, the football event will not take place this year.

Wares Fair coordinator Annie Magidsohn said she was not sure why Fire Up Fest is no longer part of the event, but she is not worried about any difference in attendance.

“I don’t think it will affect the turnout whatsoever,” Magidsohn said. “This is the 26th year Wares Fair is taking place, so it’s definitely a known event with or without the Fire Up Fest.”

Wares Fair is from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Finch Fieldhouse.

Director of Sports Information Jason Kaufman said an event similar to Fire Up Fest involving coaches and athletes was held on the last day of Leadership Safari. At the Safari event students were taught chants and led in the fight song by athletes, he said.

“It had a similar feel to Fire Up Fest,” Kaufman said.

Although Fire Up Fest will not be taking place, students can still expect what they have experienced in previous years from the Wares Fair. There will be vendors such as Walmart, Cottage Inn Pizza, Riverwood Resort, O’Kelly’s Sports Bar & Grill, United Apartments, Black Tie Tuxedo & Costume Shop and many more.

Cottage Inn is raffling off a flat-screen TV in addition to other businesses’ donations.

“We will be passing out free bowling and golf,” Riverwood Resort Director of Operations and Marketing Jeremy Lawless said. “I think it will be a great opportunity for students to get excited about Central Michigan University and the community.”

Grand Ledge sophomore Lindsey Schiller said the absence of Fire Up Fest does not change how she feels about the event.

“The pep rally would have no effect on me,” Schiller said. “I just like to go and look at the stuff.”

This year the event will take place both indoors and outside.

Magidsohn said in previous years about 4,000 students attended at Kelly Shorts stadium, but thinks that number will be even higher because of the new location this year.

“It’s directly in the middle of campus on Franklin Street and inside Finch Fieldhouse,” Magidsohn said. “It is a common traffic area so students and others around town will be able to come to the event from almost any location rather than one entrance and one exit.”