What’s better together than great live music and food? Genny Fest™ Music Festival & Food-Truck Frenzy — a free music-and-food festival hosted each spring on campus — is named for WGSU’s mascot, Genny (a lovable squirrel — herself named after the affectionate nickname for Geneseo). Featuring live music and food trucks, Genny Fest™ benefits WGSU (and future Genny Fests).
After a two-year hiatus (due to the COVID-19 pandemic), the third Genny Fest™ Music Festival & Food-Truck Frenzy will be 4–7 p.m. Friday, May 6, 2022. Check back for more details (coming soon) — including an announcement about scheduled music performers.
UPDATE: Genny Fest™ ’22 Performers Announced:
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Allison Leah ’18
More info: WGSU Unveils Genny Fest ’22 Music Lineup
Hear the Genny Fest ’22 On-Air Promo (on SoundCloud).
Photos by Ben Gajewski ’07
Genny Fest™ ’18
The first Genny Fest™ (April 27, 2018) — celebrating WGSU’s 55th anniversary — featured music by Jackknife Stiletto and Allison Leah ’18. A crowd, estimated at more than 500, packed the walkway leading from Jones Hall to MacVittie College Union Plaza. Attendees enjoyed a beautiful spring day, great music and a variety of food offerings from seven food trucks. Music performances were broadcast live on WGSU. Event partners included Campus Auxiliary Services (CAS), SUNY Geneseo University Police, Geneseo a cappella groups and Foodlink.
Hear the Genny Fest ’18 On-Air Promo (on SoundCloud).
Genny Fest™ ’19
The second Genny Fest™ (May 3, 2019) featured music by Madyx and Allison Leah ’18!
More info: WGSU Unveils Genny Fest ’19 Music Lineup
Hear the Genny Fest ’19 On-Air Promo (on SoundCloud).
Genny Fest™: A Brief Oral History
WGSU’s first Genny Fest™ (April 27, 2018) has roots going back to another station-sponsored live outdoor music festival, “Party In the Valley” (May 3, 2015); and, even further, to a WGSU co-sponsored “Rock Video Dance Party” (April 18, 1984). When Genny Fest™ ’20 was forced to be canceled on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, WGSU presented, as a substitute, an on-air and online “virtual” festival, called “Gen-E-Fest.” As part of the two-hour broadcast (May 15, 2020), WGSU Faculty Director Mike Saffran shared with Marketing Director Ben Michalak and listeners the original inspiration behind Genny Fest™. Listen to it here: Genny Fest History
To inquire about the Genny Fest™ Music Festival & Food-Truck Frenzy or Genny’s availability for other appearances (or for any questions related to her or the festival), contact Genny@geneseo.edu.