Event coordinators are transforming the former Destination Downtown into a new version of Welcome Week. The Loper Lot Party, held Aug. 28 from 5 to 9 p.m. in the Hilltop Mall parking lot, features a DJ, games, food trucks and a drone show.
The aim of the celebration was to connect the students with each other and with the community.
“It’s really just a fun night to get things rolling and get things off to a good start,” said Todd Gottula, senior director of communications and marketing. “It’s been a long-standing tradition of the university to hold this event, and this year there’s a bit of a surprise, with a different location and a slightly different theme, with the drone show and the name change. (It’s) kind of a rebranding, a refresh of the event.”
The Loper Lot Party is open to all and offers students a chance to escape the stress of back to school while exploring what the community has to offer. Games include bingo, axe throwing, escape rooms and yard games.
UNK graduate Matthew Hahn will play music.
Festivities are also taking place at the mall, as several businesses plan to provide backdrops for photo opportunities. Kelly Tuttle Krahling, assistant director of Student and Family Transitions, said some will also offer giveaways, gift bags or discounts.
Tuttle Krahling said the community has shown great interest in participating in the event.
“We love how much the community embraces UNK,” Tuttle Krahling said. “I love how much our community just opens its arms and embraces our students.”
The personalized drone show is designed by Fantasy Drone Shows from Norfolk.
“We’re super excited about the drone show,” Gottula said. “Kearney has never had one before. We’ve been looking for opportunities to do a drone show for the last year or so. It’s something we wanted to do, we were just looking for the right opportunity. When the Loper party came together, it became clear that this was the perfect time and opportunity to do it.”
The university will provide transportation to the event and pick up participants at the north entrance of the Nebraskan Student Union.
Tuttle Krahling said she looks forward to students coming back and having fun at the event.
“I’m an event planner by trade,” said Tuttle Krahling. “I love doing that, but it’s all fun and games planning something like this, but it really pays off when you see it and see the students maybe try a new dish they haven’t tried before, or play a game, or meet an old friend and say hello. That’s why I do what I do.”
