The event will be held uptown beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 4 and will be much like last year's Rasta in design, which drew approximately 6,000 participants. This year, however, part of the schedule of events is aimed at promoting the community's involvement by starting the Rasta earlier and having community-oriented activities in the uptown park including a dunk tank, face painting, a moonwalk castle for children, free food and the local band John Kogge and the Lonesome Strangers. The committee is primarily comprised of ASG members with students from various other organizations and Talawanda Student Council members also involved. The city has lifted the noise ordinance until 3 a.m. for Rasta and has agreed to block off several uptown streets to help the event's success by making space for the large crowd that is expected to attend. Since the first Red Brick Rasta two years ago, the city has seen the event serve not only as a way to bid the seniors farewell, but also a great way to curb crime during a very celebratory time of the year.
People are in a good mood.
We actually see less crime during Rasta than on an average Friday or Saturday night. Planning for this year's Rasta has been going on for more than a month and a half according to Vero, who is dedicated to seeing the event's success. It is such a large and complex event that it takes all parties in the area to make it successful.