For the first time in two years, Princeton’s spring Lawnparties was not a washout. The biannual musical event hosted by the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) was held on Sunday, April 28 and marked the end of the spring semester. Throughout the day, students partied along Prospect Avenue and on Frist North Lawn, under sunny skies with temperatures that peaked at 79 degrees.
Lawnparties was mostly unaffected by the ongoing “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” occurring about 500 feet away from the main headliner on Frist North Lawn. While the majority of protesters left the sit-in for about 30 minutes to move to the fountain outside Robertson Hall, where many students were taking photos, around noon, protesters remained at the McCosh courtyard for the duration of the Lawnparties student opener and headliner.
The warm weather matched this year’s Lawnparties theme, “Tropic Like It’s Hot.” While a few students sported bucket hats, pool floaties, and especially bright colors, most students wore sundresses and preppy outfits, matching looks from previous Lawnparties.
Like most years, the day’s activities included parties hosted by the various eating clubs along Prospect Avenue, a student opening performance by Weatherboy on the main stage, and a finale with headliner Lil Tecca. The USG Social Committee hosted a Foam Party at Campus Club during the day, and students dyed green and blue from foam could be seen walking down the street.
However, the logistics traditional to Lawnparties were changed, particularly the wristbanding location, which is typically in McCosh courtyard. This year, wristbanding was moved to the backyard of Campus Club. In an email to the student body, USG Communications wrote, “As a friendly reminder, please remember that wristbanding will take place in the Campus Club Backyard. This decision was made in line with USG’s commitment to community safety and well-being and in consideration of the fact that today is an active day on campus.”
At the same time, there were calls to cancel Lawnparties due to the continuing “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” happening in McCosh courtyard. In the days leading up to Lawnparties, Princeton Israel Apartheid Divest (PIAD) called for USG to cancel the event in an email to residential college listservs. On Sunday, an email sent to residential college listservs with the display name “Encampment for Gaza” urged students to personally boycott Lawnparties in solidarity with the protest.
“Join us! Refuse to celebrate an institution that has violated our rights to freedom of speech, assembly, and protest,” the email read. “It is up to us to set the bar for our belief in the value of human life.”
During the festivities, protesters briefly moved to the fountain outside Robertson Hall, a popular spot where students gather to take pictures. They continued down Prospect Avenue, turning around near Tower Club. After circling around the corner of Prospect Avenue and Washington Road, the protesters returned to McCosh courtyard.
Pro-Palestine protestors march near Robertson Hall.
MC McCoy / The Daily Princetonian
In the early afternoon, eating clubs held performances in advance of the headliner. The Cap and Gown Club, Cottage Club, Quadrangle Club, and Tiger Inn all hosted DJs. Tiger Inn drew a lively crowd, with students dancing and sitting along the wall that lines the front yard of the club. Cottage was also particularly busy, with the crowd stretching to the sidewalk within minutes of opening its DJ performance at 1:30 p.m.
MC McCoy / The Daily Princetonian
Cannon Dial Elm Club, Tower Club, Ivy Club, Terrace Club, and Colonial Club all invited live bands to perform. Hippie Sabotage performed at Cannon, Mico was at Tower, Coco & Breezy was at Ivy, and both Trip Kissing and Iriespect were at Terrace. At Colonial, Between Friends performed from 1–2:30 p.m., bringing groups of students to the front lawn. The group played popular songs, including “iloveyou” and “Haircut,” as students swayed to the beat.
“Princeton, thank you for inviting us to come to your beautiful school,” the band said midway through the show.
MC McCoy / The Daily Princetonian
The musical acts appeared to be a hit with partygoers.
“[Lawnparties is] like a music festival, but localized, and you feel community from it,” Sonia Balani said, a sophomore at Rutgers University visiting Princeton for the day with friends, in an interview with The Daily Princetonian. “I liked watching Between Friends, because we just sat on the lawn and didn’t have to be in a crowded place, and you’re just able to enjoy it.”
Between eating clubs, students had the opportunity to grab snacks and visit various food trucks, including Taco Bell, Nomad Pizza, and Rita’s Italian Ice and Pretzels. At Bendheim House, Chabad, the Center for Jewish Life (CJL), and the Alcohol Initiative partnered to create the world’s largest matzah pizza.
In a statement to the ‘Prince,’ Rabbi Eitan Webb from the Chabad House wrote, “When the Chabad student board realized that Lawnparties coincided with Passover, they knew that they wanted to do something special.” Volunteers could be seen blowtorching the matzah pizza as students came by to grab pieces.
After the festivities on Prospect Avenue, the party moved to Frist North Lawn, where student opener Weatherboy performed. The group performed hits including “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac, “Kyoto” by Phoebe Bridgers, and “You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morissette. The voice of lead singer Samara Samad ’25 filled the courtyard as she bounced around the stage.
“You guys have been a lovely crowd. Thanks so much for being out here,” she said to the audience toward the end of the performance.
“I think Lawnparties is great, the weather is great, and I love the student opener. I think they’re so good,” Melody Choi ’25 said in an interview with the ‘Prince.’ “I’m very excited,” she said, about waiting to see Lil Tecca.
Once Weatherboy filed offstage, a DJ took their place to amp up the crowd for Lil Tecca. Yet, before the start of the headliner, Public Safety (PSAFE) requested that students take “two big steps back” from the front of the barricade to prevent students from being crushed against the barrier as they were for A$AP Ferg in fall 2021. Resounding sounds of disapproval rang from the crowd.
Alarm bells rang to signal the start of the show. A screen, accompanied by pre-recorded audio, announced the artist’s arrival.
“This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill. This is your emergency broadcast system. Announcing the commencement of heaven on earth. These are your final moments of preparation. Please gather your belongings and make your way to the front,” the announcement said. Lil Tecca took to the stage slightly after 3:15 p.m. to the cheers of students.
Throughout the performance, students jumped, raised their hands to the beat, and sang lyrics as they recorded the performance. Lil Tecca engaged onstage, jumping up and down and waving his arms as he sang. He rallied students with phrases like “turn that sh*t up” and “make some motherf**cking noise, Princeton.”
“Can we get a ‘we love you, Tecca?’” the artist asked, which received a powerful “We love you, Tecca,” from the crowd.
Between performances, the sound effects of air horns blared to announce new songs.
Throughout the performance, security continued to make its presence known. PSAFE officers stood on the barricades, holding up posters that said “Get Down” and requesting that students move back from the very front of the lawn.
At one point, Lil Tecca chimed in at the front-row fans.
“Take two steps back. We care,” he said between two of his songs.
Lil Tecca closed with one of his most popular hits, “Ransom.” Students shouted the lyrics and huddled together for the final song.
“Thank you for having me. Maybe one day I might get an invite to the frat party or something,” he joked before exiting the stage as students held their hands in heart shapes to the stage and yelled “Tecca” in a chorus.
Isabella Dail is a News contributor and head editor for The Prospect at the ‘Prince.’
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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