UTEP’s annual Minerpalooza will kick off the fall 2017 semester on Friday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. in the Glory Road parking lot 2 in front of the Sun Bowl. 

The event is marking its 27th year and will be filled with games, food, live music and a pep rally featuring the UTEP athletic teams, coaches, cheer and dance teams, and of course Paydirt Pete.

This year, attendees can enjoy family friendly games and inflatables at Pete’s Playground, an area dedicated for children. The event will also feature a beer and wine garden for people in attendance to have a drink.

There will also be several food vendors and trucks for attendees to choose from, including chain restaurants such as Famous Dave’s BBQ, Papa John’s Pizza , as well as local eateries such as Off the Grill and the burgers and tacos joint Clasico Kitchen Bar.

Minerpalooza will also feature live performances from pop rock band We the Kings, the multicultural folk group Jenny and the Mexicats and local band Prime 80’Z, who will kick off the performances and take the stage at 7:30 p.m.

Jenny and the Mexicats infuse different types of music genres such as folk, rockabilly and cumbia into one. The band’s sound is closely related to artists such as Natalia Lafourcade, Ximena Sariñana and Playa Limbo. Their performance is set to start at 8:45 p.m.

Headliners We the Kings are best known for their hit single “Check Yes, Juliet,” which went platinum in 2007, and “Sad Song,” which has over 51 million plays on Spotify. They will round out the performances at 10 p.m.

Admission is free and the event is open to the public. Free parking will also be available throughout campus.