Students and Farmville residences alike turned out to "Rock the Block" on Friday, September 16 for the third of what is sure to remain an annual tradition and partnership between Longwood University and the town of Farmville. Local businesses like Domino's, Sleeping Bee, Karen's Bridal, The Dutch Rabbit, and the like flocked to Longwood University's Landings. They set up booths and games, giving away free samples, coupons, and flyers to advertise their goods to new and old students alike. Many of Farmville's newest additions also turned out to promote their locations, such as Flip Flops, a new yogurt shop, and the new bagel place.
Many forms of entertainment were also provided to draw students and families to the event. There to entertain and rock out the block was a band from Virginia Beach, the Full Metal Jackson's. "We did Rock the Block last year with the Dillorians," said lead singer and guitarist Frank Hohl. "I started playing guitar when I was thirteen. I was into metal and I had a friend who was doing the same kind of work in a cover band, so I started doing that. I've been doing it for like 18 years now." The band played a large variety of songs, drawing an impressively large crowd. "We play a little bit of everything. We try to sound like DJ, so we tend to go all over the place. Everything from country to rock to rap to pop, the 80's. This band is pretty much all covers," said Hohl. And they rocked the covers, never missing a beat between drums, keyboards, and a voice that could cover all levels of music. Students flooded around the stage as the night wore on and the band did a great job of keeping things going at a level pace, asking the audience to sing along and interacting as much as possible.
"They played ‘Bad Fish' by Sublime, which was pretty sweet," said Longwood University's sophomore Katie Cosby when asked what she thought of the bands. "I would like to have them come back next year." And many people seemed to agree. Overall, the largest congregation formed directly in front of the stage and large groups of students danced along, not even missing a beat when the band left the stage and a Zumba Demonstration followed.
Also there to entertain were stations like face painting, photo booth, a Zumba demonstration, caricatures, a mechanical bull, and a gravity-defying spin machine. Mixed with the flowing crowd, free coupons, live music, and good food, the atmosphere was extremely festive, despite the rather cold bit of fall weather. A handful of raffles also took place during the span of the event with gift baskets from various businesses being raffled off as well as gift certificates from places around Farmville. The grand prize raffles took place later on in the evening, and they had some amazing entertainment accessory up for grabs like an iPad, iPods, four $25 gift certificates for iTunes, a Wii, and a flat screen television.
"I love Rock the Block. This is the third year we've done it and every year it seems a success. I'm so happy to be working it again," said Ashley K. Stovall, the Program Coordinator for the Office of First Year Experience. It was this office that was responsible for holding and hosting the event.
Overall, the event drew a large and happy crowd, sitting out on the lawn eating food while jamming out to music, getting their faces painted, or riding the mechanical bull.
