The scene for Springchella 2026 was set by the late afternoon sun, but long before the music started, vendors and event workers were hard at work making the area surrounding the Drollinger Stage a vibrant festival for students. LMU’s annual concert, also called “After Sunset,” took place on March 13 from 5 to 9 p.m. It featured a headline performance by Destin Conrad along with student openers chosen during February competition rounds. The surrounding booths, food trucks, and pop-ups helped create a full festival atmosphere for the students in attendance.
There were three food trucks parked close to the stage, providing students with a range of options all night long. Around 3 p.m., The Paradise, Birrieria El Patron, and 8E8 Thai Food Truck arrived to start getting ready for the event. After setting up for an hour, each truck served students all evening until packing up after the concert closed. Early in the afternoon, the ice cream cart, Collective Gelato, prepared to serve students before the event. The cart’s seller said that “the set up was very easy,” which enabled them to get everything ready before the students arrived.
A free photo booth run by Pixter was another well-liked destination for students. Before students started lining up, Xzavior, the company’s production manager, arrived on campus at 3 p.m. and completed the setup by himself. It took him approximately an hour to put together the enclosed booth where students could snap printed pictures with friends.
“You have an opportunity to not only integrate yourself with the student body but experience the camaraderie of the community with events like this. It gives us a chance to nurture a community,” Xzavior said, adding that Pixter had previously collaborated with LMU at other campus events. “It allows us to foster a sense of community,” he remarked.
A Princess Polly promotional Jeep, where students could spin a prize wheel for free items, was another popular pop-up. Students were invited to pick up free merch including hats, baby t-shirts in sizes XS–XL, and keychains.
The promotion was led by Casey Fineberg and Meghan Russell, two Princess Polly workers. Before applying for a full-time position, Fineberg, who graduated from UCLA this past spring and started working for the company full-time in October, said she had previously worked with Princess Polly through college ambassador roles.
“It’s so much fun being able to interact with college students and be a part of the community,” Fineberg said.
The visit marked the girls first time working an event at LMU. According to Fineberg, the brand has spent a lot of their time on East Coast campuses and is now testing more West Coast locations to see how students respond.
“Everything has been great. It’s been a consistent flow of students coming over and spinning the wheel,” she said.
Fineberg clarified that the brand offers two primary opportunities for college ambassadors: an affiliate program for students who wish to represent the brand on campus and receive commissions through personal codes, and another program targeted at student influencers with larger social media followings who work with the brand through creative posts. According to Fineberg, ASLMU, the university’s undergraduate student government group, assisted in organizing the logistics so that the advertising Jeep could be carried straight onto campus, making the setup possible.
Fineberg said the booth attracted a wide range of students, including many who may not have been familiar with the brand beforehand.
“Its just a really great way for us to spread brand awareness to those who maybe even are not wearing Princess Polly all the time,” she said.
Before the music even started, students had a festival-like experience thanks to the merchants, booths, and pop-ups that collectively shaped the atmosphere, making Springchella more than just a concert.
