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| ELIA MILLER / Scroll |
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| Cody Anderson, a sophomore from Lyman, Idaho, participates in the bungee run. |
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Chilly weather didn’t stop some BYU-Idaho students and Rexburg community members from going downtown to enjoy an afternoon of free food, entertainment and fun at Rexburg Unplugged.
The second annual Rexburg Unplugged was held on Saturday on the corner of Center and Main, downtown Rexburg.
“Rexburg Unplugged is really good because it gives adults and college students a chance to get to know businesses, what they’re about, and what they have to offer,” said Jennifer Whetten, a senior from The Colony, Texas, who was helping with a booth for the Sunshine Generation, a children’s performance group.
Other booths included Verizon Wireless, Grease Monkey, Gandolfo’s, Winger’s, Subway, Dream Knot Video and Photo, Trailway Express and Sage, a local day spa.
Sponsored by the Rexburg Chamber of Commerce and Clear Talk, a wireless cell phone company, Rexburg Unplugged was designed to welcome college students back to school and to help familiarize them with local businesses and what Rexburg has to offer. Packets of coupons and information pertaining to Rexburg and its businesses were handed out to students as they arrived. As students and community members visited the various booths, they could sample free foods, enter drawings and receive free things and coupons.
Several bands performed throughout the afternoon. The BYU-I Jazz Combo was the first to perform, followed by the bands Trace, National Holiday, Awe Personna and the Ben Mathew Project. “I’m glad the weather’s holding. We have really looked forward to having everyone out, performing and doing what we love to do,” said Jim Burres, a junior from Santa Clarita, Calif., who is a member of the band Trace.
In between bands, spectators were entertained by a break dancing group called the Wrecksburg Recking Crew, otherwise known as BOM Squad. “This is a great event where students can interact and enjoy bands, sponsors and life,” said group member, Clayton Ashcraft, a junior from San Diego, Calif. When the group wasn’t performing their routine, Aaron Lowe, emcee for Rexburg Unplugged, held contests to give away free things such as gift certificates and posters. “It has been a good turn out. Lots of businesses are excited to be here,” Lowe said.
Livi Osborne, a senior from Meridian, Idaho, said that Rexburg Unplugged was very effective and that “it’s good for the Rexburg Chamber to support this and make it BYU-I student driven. They have bands we like and entertainment like break dancing.”
Osborne said that Rexburg Unplugged allowed her to get to know the businesses she wouldn’t need to normally go to.
For example, “We went to Great Harvest and they gave us free bread. We didn’t know about them before we came but now we definitely want to come back. The businesses did a great job today; it’s really fun,” Osborne said.
“I [had] a good time,” said Matt Remington, a freshman from Lake Oswego, Ore. “This was a great way to come and learn about the community.”
