In August of 1969, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair was held on a 600-acre dairy farm in Bethel, NY. On March 15, 2013, in themUNCW Suites courtyard, the Woodstock-inspired festival, Schwoodstock made campus history.

Students Abbey Starling and Marina Fanous organized the concert.  They said the concert was based off a program from a couple of years ago, but was less successful in comparison to the one they put together. They worked to build off the original idea, and planned to make it bigger-much bigger.

“Schwoodstock has an umbrella effect,” said Fanous. “We want to promote freedom within all the aspects of food, philanthropy, sustainability and music.”

Not only were there performances by student musicians such as Parker G, Zach Twiford, Magnets, The Galloway Trio and T Blake, but there were also local musicians such as Free Clinic, Clockwork Kids, Villa Verde and J’Capri.

Aside from music, the concert offered free Velvet Freeze ice cream, coffee and hot chocolate and the local Poor Piggy’s food truck.  The concert was intended to emphasize the role of local businesses and community as much as possible. Several educational information tables surrounded the perimeter as well.

One organization that the concert supported in particular was the END IT movement- an organization that promotes the abolishment of modern slavery.

Those who attended were able to spread awareness by either taking a picture of themselves and friends and then tweeting #ENDIT @schwoodstock, or by stenciling a white t-shirt with spray paint and hanging it around the festival perimeter for everyone to see.

Schwoodstock was all about interacting, communicating and getting involved.

“What I would like for others to get out of it is just that feeling that they were a part of something,” Fanous said.

During the six-hour concert and festival, the Suites’ courtyard filled with students engaging in the festivities.

Because of the central location, the concert attracted the attention of those involved with Greek Life, as well as freshmen and sophomores living in the Suites.

“I think it’s so much fun,” said freshman Talene Iskenian. “I love seeing people that maybe are in my classes, or my RAs or something, up there doing their thing-playing music. I’m all about music.”

Students lounged in chairs and laid out towels or blankets to sit back and enjoy the musical stylings of many talented artists.

“We feel really supported by the people who are helping us,” said Starling.

Along with their Suite’s area chapter and Adam Hall-who spoke during the concert about the aspects of philanthropy and the significance of the END IT movement-Starling and Fanous spent the past year strategizing and organizing an event that helped transpire a dream.

Both Starling and Fanous said that the concert is expected to take place again next year, as long as other students are willing to take over their reign of responsibilities.