Four reasons to drop by Future Fest

Kick off the 2019-20 academic year with a visit to the future: Future Fest at River House, that is.

Everyone is invited — students, faculty and staff — to celebrate the start of a new semester at the River House from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29. But’s it’s more than a kickoff party. This inaugural event offers the opportunity to imagine all the possibilities the future holds. What path will you take? What dreams are you dreaming? How will you design your own future here at JU and beyond?

We hope you’ll begin to answer those questions at Future Fest. And here are four more reasons to drop by

1. Free Food. Good Beer.

You’re going to get hungry and thirsty, and the cafeteria will be closed for dinner. Future Fest can help you with that. All types of food, including vegan options, and drink, including Intuition Brewing’s beer truck if you’re of legal drinking age.

2. Swag

Who doesn’t like free stuff? We’re giving limited-edition t-shirts to the first 500 guests who like us on Instagram @jacksonvilleu. We’re also going to raffle a Starbucks Gift Card, Cold Brew Coffee Maker, Gel Memory Foam pillow, portable outdoor power supply, portable Bluetooth speakers, Roku, Echo Dot, a hammock, Airpods headphones and an Apple watch. You know you need at least one of these things. To enter, post during Future Fest on your preferred social media platform:

• Twitter or Instagram use #JUPhinsUp
• Instagram story tag @jacksonvilleu
• Facebook tag @JacksonvilleUniversity

3. Chainsaws

Danger. Daring. Art. International chainsaw artist and Husqvarna ambassador Chad Gainey will be turning a dead tree stump into a sculpture fit for a ‘Phin. Plus, Husqvarna (international power equipment manufacturer) will be showing off the future of landscaping: autonomous lawn mowers. They’re like Roombas for your yard!

4. Time Travel

OK, maybe not time travel but we will have an Infinity Room, live electro-acoustic music from JU’s very own faculty and students, a virtual reality experience and other interactive art installations.

After all, the fest is all about the future. See what it looks like from 6-9 p.m. Thursday at River House.

By Jim Mullay