Iona College’s 2014 Spring Weekend opened with a powerhouse performance by Ryan Leslie and BadVerb, but it was the performances at Gael Jam by Iona’s own on April 26 that made the weekend truly memorable.

From a photo booth to a personalized airbrush T-shirt station to an inflatable jousting arena, Iona College’s 2014 Gael Jam segment of Spring Weekend was jam packed with all different kinds of events.

If these activities didn’t keep you busy enough, the steps of Spellman were transformed into a stage for multiple performers ranging from Iona students to entertainers like up-and-coming country star Taylor Faith. President Nyre even stopped by to sing the classic song “Time of Your Life,” with graduating senior Tyler Conroy.

Other Iona performers included Emma Kaahaaina, John Bertino, Brigid McGlynn, Colleen Ramos, the cast of the upcoming original Taylor Swift based musical ‘It’s A Love Story,’ along with many others.

“Gael Jam was fun!” Freshman Megan Ortiz said. “It was nice to see Gaels up there singing, having fun at all the activities, and just enjoying spring weekend as much as possible. It made my spring weekend that much better.”

Members of the Gaels Activity Board (GAB) worked relentlessly to help make this Spring Weekend enjoyable and overall memorable. GAB member and sophomore Mario Rodriguez believed the event went pretty well.

“It took a couple months to plan the entire event. We listened to what the student body wanted and tried our best to give it,” Rodriguez said. “From a GAB perspective things ran smoothly and it ended up being a great day to be a Gael. For next year we want even more feedback from the students so it can be even better.”

Some of the students’ favorite parts of Gael Jam were located under two specific tents. The food tent allowed students to sign in with their student ID to receive a ticket for free food. It was packed with anxious students awaiting their free meals. You could definitely tell people are running low on meal money and were ready for a free barbecue sponsored by Chartwells.

The other tent was slightly more exclusive, the famous Beer Tent where every 21-year-old awaited their turn to get a bracelet and enjoy themselves with their closest friends.

Freshman performer and GAB e-board member for next year, Kelvin Najarro thought Gael Jam was a great success.

“Gael Jam of course didn’t go as planned due to the rainy weather, but the best was still made of it, and I had a great time singing alongside my talented friend Sarah Gaughan,” said Najarro. “The food, the music, and the people were great!”