The Mississippi State University Center for Student Activities will host the first-ever State Soiree on March 19, transforming historic Perry Food Hall into a venue for a campus-wide formal experience designed to bring all students together regardless of organization, background or budget.
The free event will feature a live band, custom food and mocktail items created specifically for the event, as well as a maroon carpet with a professional photographer and a photo booth. Doors to the Spring Soiree will open at 6:30 p.m., with the event concluding at 10:00 p.m.
Student Activities Director Kylie Forrester said that Perry’s history as a campus dance venue inspired the event and that the Spring Soiree aims to revive that tradition while creating a new annual event open to every student.
“It’s been a dream of ours to host something like this,” Forrester said. “The idea is, not only would it be like resurrecting a really cool old tradition, but it’s also an opportunity for all students on this campus to come together and have a formal type of event.”
While the event is being marketed as a formal or semi-formal event, Forrester said that she does not want attire to be a barrier.
Students are encouraged to dress up as much, or as little, as they’d like, with the focus on creating an elevated, fun experience rather than enforcing a strict dress code. To support this goal, the Center for Student Activities is currently hosting a Spring Soiree clothing donation drive.
White boxes labeled “Spring Soiree” have been placed at various locations around campus, including outside the Center for Student Activities and at several fraternity and sorority life houses, and donations will be open until this Friday.
Students, faculty and staff are invited to donate semi-formal and formal attire, dresses, suits, blazers, dress shoes and other outfits suitable for a date or dressier occasion. The CSA posted a donation inspiration graphic on their Instagram, @msstate.studentactivities.
If enough donations are collected, the Center for Student Activities will host a “Soiree Shop” the week of March 2, where students can browse and select outfits for free. Any remaining items after the event will be donated to local charitable organizations, such as Palmer Home or similar groups that can make use of the clothing.
“I think the clothing drive, the main thing was just trying to eliminate something that felt like a really obvious perceived barrier that people may have,” Forrester said.
Karolina Kastsiuchenka, the coordinator for programs at the Center for Student Activities, echoed this sentiment.
“We really want this event to be for everybody, and we recognize that everybody might not have a nice dress or something like that that they would like to wear,” Kastsiuchenka said.
Mocktails such as a Peach Elderflower Spritz and a Strawberry Blossom Bellini will be available, as well as menu items like bánh mì sliders, barbecue shrimp and grits and smoked macaroni and cheese with spicy chicken tenders.
Forrester said that she is excited about the band and being able to offer students a classic dance experience that is open to all students, which is something that has previously been missing from MSU. An announcement for the live band will be coming soon.
“I think students will really enjoy the band, which is another thing. Outside of concerts, there’s not a lot of opportunities to go and hear a party band,” Forrester said. “And we don’t really have dances anymore, so I think for students, it’s a unique opportunity to have that experience in college.”
Anna McCoy, a freshman biochemistry major, is a student worker involved in organizing the State Soiree.
“I definitely think if [students] go, they’ll have fun. It’s like there’s something for everyone. Even if you want to stay on the quieter end away from the band, you still listen to them, but you can relax,” McCoy said. “So I like that part too, because sometimes I don’t want to just be in front of a band.”
McCoy said that she has been working with the Center for Student Activities to finalize details and is excited to see the outcome.
“I can’t wait to finally see it and see just the outcome of it, because this is our first year having it,” McCoy said.
Kastsiuchenka said the food hall will be transformed with colorful lighting, spring-themed decorations, custom menu items, mocktails and more designed to provide students with an experience unique from other open events on campus.
“We want this to be a spring event that students will look forward to,” Kastsiuchenka said. “Somewhere that they can dance, that they can dress up nicely and enjoy some good music and food.”
