A springtime tradition is underway this week at Iowa State University. The 90th annual edition of VEISHEA opened on today and runs through the weekend. Laura Larson is the spokeswoman for the campus-wide celebration.

This year’s theme is “A Timeless Tradition.” The festival began in 1922 on the Ames campus. VEISHEA is the largest student-run celebration in the country and it’s the acronym of the colleges of Veterinary Medicine, Engineering, Industrial Science, Home Economics and Agriculture.

Larson says there will be plenty of events throughout the week, including a host of tournaments for students and non-students and a performance of the musical “Rent.” There’s a student comedy competition called “VEISHEA Says I’m Funny” in addition to Cyclone Idol, a student singing contest.

There’s all sorts of entertainment throughout the week, from jugglers to a hypnotist, and feasts of food. Larson says the big draws will come in a few days. This weekend, there’s a parade on Saturday morning, also VEISHEA Village, various booths from the community and campus groups, and concerts on Friday and Saturday night.

A variety of acts are performing in a range of music, from rock to pop to R-and-B to country. Learn more at: www.veishea.iastate.edu.

By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City