2022 Movin’ On Review
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – For the first time in three years, the annual and traditional music festival, Movin’ On, made its return to the IM Fields Friday. The line-up included The Aces, Fitz and The Tantrums, Aminé, and Jack Harlow.
Talk about a return, geez Louise.
As every article seems to start nowadays, Movin’ On could not happen in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival in 2020 was supposed to feature Foster the People, Lil Yachty, Two Friends, and Sasha Sloan.
Naturally, this event was hyped up to be the best time ever. So what is it? Well…sort of.
There is more to the event than the music, believe it or not. The Movin’ On team organizes food trucks, merchandise tables, and oftentimes one of the artists will bring their merchandise table.
The tents with all of these things were well executed. Jack Harlow gave out pouch bags that said: “Come Home The Kids Miss You”, an actual nail tech painting people’s nails (Harlow has a song called “Nail Tech”) and Harlow’s upcoming album cover “Come Home The Kids Miss You” on a backdrop for people to take pictures in front of.
The water stations were helpful, classic festival/carnival food was sold, and the activities were entertaining while waiting for the next act to perform.
However, there is a bone to pick here. Anyone with a Penn State ID or a legal government-issued ID who is 18 years old or older is allowed to attend. If all of Penn State’s students, including branch campuses, were to come, the event would have been an absolute disaster.
This did not happen. But, there were way too many people at this event. Movin’ On is funded by student fees which are included in students’ tuition. Why should people, who do not go to Penn State, be allowed to come? What is the purpose?
Those who stayed for the entire duration of Movin’ On would know that finding a good spot to watch the performers was nearly impossible. There were so many people, many were jumping up and down to try to see the stage.
What also needs to be known is there were no blank screens where live video footage of the artist could be projected onto the screen. If Penn State wanted this many people to come, at least hang up a screen so those who are too short or too far away to even see the act could see the performer.
Reviews of the performers are published. Overall, Movin’ On was okay. Many might agree that it was disappointing, especially for the class of 2024 and 2025 who have never experienced the festival before. Sometimes, the minor details override everything else. It seems as though Penn State did not prioritize its students.
Hopefully, Movin’ On 2023 will take the advice this article provides or figures out a way to make the festival more enjoyable.
Emily McGlynn is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email esm5378@psu.edu.
