May Days kicked off yesterday with a variety of new and traditional activities to celebrate the completion of another academic year and bring together the DU community.

This year’s May Days, put on by the DU Programs Board, runs through Thursday and includes six events meant to bring students together outside to celebrate the season and the end of the school year.

“This year is bigger than before. In the past there have not been big events put on every day,” said Matt Lane, AUSA Senate Chair of Traditions.

Monday began with the launch of the bike-sharing program, which has been in the works since last fall. Mayor John Hickenlooper spoke at the ceremony. Following the launch of this program, there was a Hawaiian luau that included a pig roast and hula dancers.

Today, field day will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students are able to partake in volleyball, soccer and other outdoor games on Driscoll Lawn.  There will also be t-shirt tie dying and grilling on the green.

Tomorrow, there will be a carnival on Driscoll Lawn from 12-6 p.m., which has been one of the most popular events in the past. There will be carnival games, bouncy rides and a student organizations fair, and traditional carnival foods such as lemonade and funnel cakes will be served. In the evening a brand-new event, a dive-in movie, will show in the Ritchie Center pool. “Pirates of the Caribbean” will be screened and students are invited to watch the movie in the pool.

Finally, Thursday will conclude with the annual music festival beginning at 3 p.m. Participating bands include Clipse, DJ Savoy, The Photo Atlas, The Epilogues and The Foot. This year’s student bands are Petals of Spain and Boranan. 

“May Days is one of three main traditions that DU has. It is a celebration of what DU and the Denver Community are all about and enjoying the nice weather and spring,” said Lane.

“This week is about having fun with friends and one last big hoorah of the year,” said Leslie Obletz, May Days director.