Vendors lined the second and third floors of the Student Center Friday night during University Program Council's Block Party, drawing in students with coupons and free food.
"It's about advertisement and publicity for the different groups and vendors," said Sarah Early, UPC volunteers director, "but it's also just to welcome everyone back to school."
The event, part of Welcome Week 2010, featured 17 food vendors, inflatable attractions, caricaturists and more.
Julianne Willis, UPC vice president, said the goal of the Block Party was to get new and returning students involved.
"It gives freshmen something fun to do and informs them about local businesses," Willis said, "and for returning students, it's just something to look forward to every year."
The Wayne Mills Band performed a concert for students. Willis said UPC chose a good band this year, and they were excited about the additional food donors.
Caroline McGill, freshman in pre-engineering, attended the event for free food and to relax after her first week of college classes.
"Classes have been long this week," McGill said. "We're just getting back into things, so I'm looking forward to just getting to chill and see everybody."
Roman Salery, senior in human resources management, said the Block Party was about meeting new people and reliving memories.
"As a senior, it brings back old memories and makes me realize how much I've come through at Auburn," he said.
International accounting student Mubarak Alderei went to the Block Party to practice speaking English.
"I'm looking forward to being with other people speaking English because I'm still learning," Alderei said. "It's important to be with other students to play games and have fun."
The Block Party was co-sponsored by UPC, Freshman Year Experience, Student Alumni Association, Auburn Ignited and the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs. The organizations started planning the event at the end of spring semester. Early said it was a good experience working with multiple sponsors because the planning was equally divided.
Welcome Week, whose theme was "Passport to Auburn," ended Aug. 21. Early said Welcome Week events are important because students get to meet people and have free entertainment.
"My first Tiger Night, I met two girls in line for caricatures that I became friends with," Early said, "and it's fun for people to bring their friends and just walk around and get free stuff. You get a night out without having to pay for anything."
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