UPDATED: April 28, 10:21 p.m.

Despite being in the middle of a losing game of Kan Jam, Ian Campbell embraced the atmosphere of freedom and celebration that defines MayFest.

“Jack Frost isn’t on our front lawn,” said Campbell, a junior civil engineering major, referring to last year’s cold weather. This year’s MayFest allowed him to escape the pressure of school and celebrate the warm climate.

Friday’s MayFest celebration consisted of Syracuse University students wearing tank tops, shorts and summer dresses while embracing the weather along the sidewalks, roofs and yards of the 400 and 500 blocks of Euclid Avenue.

Students outside 423 Euclid Ave. took advantage of the weather by soaking in an inflatable pool.

“The pool is definitely making this year’s MayFest the best one so far,” said Charles Morgan, a resident of the house and senior bioengineering major. “If you’re not on Euclid, you’re not at MayFest.”

Despite the warm weather, Rich Festante, a graduate student in the School of Information Studies, said MayFest couldn’t compare to previous years, when Walnut Park wasn’t open and everyone congregated on Euclid.

“This is not MayFest,” Festante said, standing with his dog Ruskin by a beer pong table set up outside 501 Euclid Ave.

However, the excitement on Euclid — which, by early afternoon, was lined with beer pong tables and Frisbee games — ran high.

Partygoers crowded into a monster-truck-shaped bouncy castle at 510 Euclid Ave. Melissa Viola, an undeclared freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, joined four other students sitting on the roof overlooking the party, where they danced and sang.

“I’m really enjoying my first time at MayFest,” Viola said. “I’ve been having fun since 10:30 this morning.”

Jaime Rivera, a senior finance major, walked through the party in a green jersey that read, “Live 10 Euclid.” Rivera said he recruited a full gamut of amateur DJs, including DJ Thick Rigs, DJ Sasquatch and DJ Suavez, in celebration of MayFest.

“I also rented the bouncy castle on Monday, which cost me $200,” Rivera said. “It was definitely worth it.”

Erica Noman, a sophomore communication and rhetorical studies major, said she hoped this year’s MayFest would live up to last year’s. Noman and her friends constructed a makeshift beer pong table out of wood they found in their basement so they could join the crowds already playing outside.

“My first year of MayFest was epic, and today has been really fun so far,” Noman said. “MayFest is the one time of the year that our tuition finally pays off.”

Syracuse Police Department officers patrolled Euclid on foot and in cars.

Officer Kevin Corcoran said officers were looking out for underage drinking.

Corcoran said student arrests during MayFest have decreased in recent years, which can be attributed to the university and police making students more aware of potential legal ramifications.

At about 5:15 p.m., two SPD officers entered a house on Euclid due to a noise complaint. As a result, attendees were forced to vacate the premises.

John Sardino, Department of Public Safety associate chief, said no arrests were made at the university-sponsored celebration in Walnut.

He said several arrests and ticket citations were given at parties on Euclid, Harrison Street and in the East neighborhood. Most of the problems stemmed from open container violations and noise complaints, Sardino said.

“In comparison to last year, we have seen similar numbers reported for students who were arrested and for those who received ticket citations,” Sardino said. “We had very few problems at Walnut Park.”

Phil George, a senior broadcast and digital journalism major, said MayFest serves as a great way for students to release pent-up stress accumulated during the course of the semester. He said he has been attending MayFest since freshman year, and found the experience more enjoyable as a 21-year-old because of the free beer available in Walnut.

“I think MayFest is an important part of the Syracuse tradition,” George said. “We’re all happy to be here and we’re going to have a great time.”

Nicolette Gomez, a senior psychology and neuroscience major, moved through MayFest on crutches after severely spraining her ankle Thursday. Gomez said she appreciated the sunshine, since this was the first MayFest she experienced without bad weather.

Said Gomez: “It’s my last MayFest before I graduate from SU, so I’m just going to spend it with the people closest to me.”

Published on April 26, 2013 at 9:47 pm

Contact Maggie: mmcregan@syr.edu