Jam out and learn about festival safety and drug misuse at the upcoming Mavupalooza from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Brazos Park.
Hosted by Health Services, the music festival is meant to bring awareness to substance abuse and teach students safety practices and harm reduction, said Gabriel Ramos, Health Services alcohol, tobacco and other drugs prevention specialist. Ramos said the music wellness event will have a lot of resources for substance use awareness.
“September is Substance Use Awareness Month,” he said. “We’re trying to convey safety practices when it comes to festivals and what better way to do it than to promote it through a music festival event.”
Cherry Mantis, a local indie pop rock Dallas-Fort Worth band consisting of UTA alumni, will perform during the event.
Partnering with recovery programs, the event will feature nonprofits like Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and UTA departments like Relationship Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention and Counseling and Psychological Services, Ramos said.
Many groups will table to inform attendees about available resources and volunteer opportunities to help the community.
He said these programs and nonprofits are coming to reach out to students, whether they’re dealing with a family issue, a personal issue or something else. The event also gives Health Services a chance to bring awareness of local resources available to students even after they graduate.
“It’s really important to have our students very well-informed about the local resources that we have here in the DFW area and here in Arlington,” Ramos said. “You never know when you’re gonna need these resources, because life can be very changing at all times.”
Students will have the opportunity to enjoy fun activities like a face gem table and yard games. Students can get T-shirts, promo items, giveaways, fanny packs, stickers, festival wristbands and more.
Snacks and hydration stations will be scattered across the event, Ramos said. There will be misting fans and shaded areas as well.
“We’re trying to make it feel like an actual festival, but obviously with safety in mind,” he said.
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