This was StuDay 2024!
It’s official: StuDay 2024 was a massive hit once again! With over 19,000 students, we kicked off the academic year in style: dancing, playing, and exploring. The theme of this edition was ‘PowerUp,’ a concept designed to empower and hype up students! Curious about how it all went down? Here’s a recap of the highlights.
StuDay is the unmissable start to the academic year: every year, STAN organizes a massive, and free, festival on the last Thursday of September. No, it’s not too good to be true. StuDay is much more than just a killer party with amazing artists: this year, we expanded the concept with four zones. You could still let loose to the best beats and tunes in the Dance zones, but we went bigger. You could challenge yourself with sports and games in the Play zone or discover up-and-coming talent from Antwerp in the Discover zone. If the endless activities of StuDay became a bit overwhelming, or if you just needed a moment to relax, you could head to the Recharge zone: here, you could recalibrate in hammocks and with noise-cancelling headphones. This variety of activities is what makes StuDay, well, StuDay!
In the Dance zone, it stayed warm all day, despite the rain. The stage was first heated up by the rock-solid members of Lukja, who won the VI.BE contest this year! When FabioW started his set, we spotted several cowboy hats and hobby horses in the crowd (and even among the crew!). It was clear: Antwerp students love FabioW. When he picked a girl from the crowd to dance with him on stage, the screams were so loud they could be heard backstage. Chibi Ichigo kept the energy going despite the weather: superfans in the front row were singing along to every word in their colorful rain ponchos. That’s dedication! As night fell, Dikke lived up to his name with his heavy lyrics and pumping beats. Talk about a powerup!
The StuDay Club Challenge was open to all students this year for the first time, not just student organizations! In groups, they competed in the Play zone for the gold trophy and prize pot. They had to shoot, hang, run, and throw like pros! For those less into competition, there were also bouncy castles and a hobby horse course from Tout Bien. The energetic festival-goers were hyped up by music from the RedBull DJ caravan!
The Recharge zone was a brand-new addition, and it turned out to be a winning formula! This chill space featured not only hammocks and cozy chairs in a sensory-friendly tent, but also an inspiring lineup of speakers throughout the day. The guys from Onbespreekbaar shared their thoughts on mental health during your student years. Flo Windey also shared her tips and tricks for a positive student life, where balancing work and play is key. There was room not just for serious topics, but for humor too, thanks to comedian Jeroen Maris! Studying isn’t always fun and games, but it’s important to keep those positive vibes alive.
Finally, the Discover zone was another festival revelation. Throughout the day, various organizations and locations from around Antwerp introduced themselves to new students! Culture lovers instantly fell in love with Antwerp’s offerings. For those wanting to keep the party going, the Discover zone had up-and-coming Antwerp talent providing beats all night long. Our city truly has it all.
StuDay had everything a (new) Antwerp student could need to start the year on a positive note. It’s the place to be to meet new friends, soak up positive vibes, or find some peace in the midst of all the excitement. StuDay 2024 was an epic edition, so a huge thank you to everyone who came to dance, discover, and enjoy! To new beginnings!
