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Thursday, July 3, 2025

Third Annual Rock the Block this Friday

In its third year of operation, Rock the Block, an event that characterized many upperclassmen's freshman and sophomore years, is coming back better than ever. The location is still the same: in the shadow of the Longwood Landings and among a few shops and business lots at Midtown Square. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. and last until nine p.m. The buzz will also be the same but amplified by the ever-correcting minds of its organizers.

Sarah Whitley, director of the Office of the First Year Experience, is one of the primary minds behind Rock the Block and is able to divulge exactly what this year's signature opening event will look like. Whitley shared some intimate details of the organization, saying that this year's Rock the Block will be a "completely sponsoring-based event" with support from campus offices and town businesses alike.

Largely in cooperation with the Town of Farmville and  Farmville's Downtown Revitalization measure, Rock the Block hopes to garner both student and town resident attention this year with hopes for a "thousand to five hundred" more visitors than last year. You'd ought to believe they'd be entertained too; fed by "the premium picnic dinner, which is an upscale menu [containing] steak, Cajun pasta, and vegetarian options," and given chances to participate in raffles from businesses and faculty and staff ticket patrols who will cycle unassumingly through the crowds.

The headlining band will be last year's opener Full Metal Jackson, and the fun doesn't just end there. The novelties, which have proved almost unbelievably popular among audience members, have come back and grown from two to five specific novelties.  These will include a caricature artist, a "brush tattoo artist, an inflatable chair, photo opportunities, a mechanical bull, and we have what's called an orbitron which is this contraption that you get inside of and rotate around."

Caryn's Bridal, Formals and Tuxedos will be back with their big live displays that they do every year with students featuring some of their top wardrobe picks.

Heading back to another important attraction, raffles, the Rock the Block event will host giveaways from over a dozen of the 70 present businesses and grand prizes from Longwood including an iPad, an iPod Touch, and an iHome. These prizes, bigger than they have ever been before, will be followed by the traditional Rock the Block fireworks, which will be maintained by Farmville's Town Manager Gerry Spates. Of particular importance to some students will be the announcement of Longwood's new mascot and live remote coverage by local radio station WLFO 95.7 FM and 870 AM.

 However, the work behind Rock the Block is quite extensive with a search through a database by use of business licenses to show their locations and a call for businesses that happens sometime in the summer.

 Whitley also noted her wish to expand the Rock Block venue via a movie shown in the outdoor theatre downtown at the Crute Stage and a move farther up Main Street. Bigger name bands are also an aim of the office's gradual improvement. However, the aim is to also keep the proceeding family friendly so that child can be brought and enjoy themselves.

 In light of all this positive change toward the already strong mold of Rock the Block, the community is anxiously awaiting the third installment and what the future may bring for its line of renditions.   

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