Colgate University students opened their phones to an unexpected Thanksgiving surprise when the Office of Student Involvement (OSI) released a clever graphic announcing Yung Gravy as the 2026 Springfest artist on Thursday, Nov. 27.
Yung Gravy is an American rapper who has written numerous recognizable hits over the years, known for writing catchy, upbeat and even humorous songs. Among the most famous are “Mr. Clean” and “Betty,” the latter of which samples Rick Astley’s iconic song “Never Gonna Give You Up.” His performance will be a blend of energy and nostalgia for Colgate students, as the majority of his most popular songs were released a few years ago and, in many ways, are reminiscent of that time.
The concert will take place on Saturday, April 25. While it is still early in the planning process, students like sophomore Olivia Michael are already excited for the show.
“I can’t wait for Springfest, and I’m excited to see the energy that Yung Gravy will bring to Colgate,” Michael said.
The selection process for the Springfest artist — the same as every year — involves a significant amount of collaboration between Colgate faculty, students and third-party assistance. The budget is confirmed in early September, and the Springfest Student Committee then meets and discusses potential options for the performance. Those artists are then reviewed by Concert Ideas, an entertainment agency in Woodstock, N.Y.
Paul Habernig, director of OSI, commented on the process.
“Anyone on that list that is within our budget and is available was added to the student voting list,” Habernig said.
Students were then emailed a GetInvolved form listing the available artists and invited to select who they would like to see perform at Colgate.
“We had over 800 students vote,” Habernig said.
However, the student vote is nowhere near the last step in the selection process.
“The Springfest Committee then reviews the artists with the most votes and moves them to the offer or no offer list,” Habernig said. “The third-party agency — Concert Ideas — then works with OSI to create an offer and thus a contract with the artist. Yung Gravy was the top nominated and voted artist.”
Though it requires a lot of external support, this method of selection allows student voices to be heard, which many appreciate. Sophomore Justin Kim was especially excited about Yung Gravy being selected.
“I used to listen to Yung Gravy, but I also like him because he voiced in this new video game ‘Dispatch,’ and he did a good job,” Kim said.
Springfest takes place annually the weekend before classes end, and is one of the most highly anticipated weekends each year. There are always a variety of events for students to enjoy, including club-run activities, Dancefest, and the concert. Many students find it to be one of their favorite Colgate traditions and make some of their fondest memories over the course of the weekend.
“It was a great time last year,” Kim said. “Me and my friends all went together, and it was definitely one of the highlights of my freshman year.”
First-year students were excited about their first Springfest, especially for Yung Gravy’s performance. First-year Rex Grube is specifically enthusiastic about the chance to enjoy live music and to experience a key Colgate tradition for the first time.
“I’m really looking forward to Springfest, and I’m super excited to see Yung Gravy perform,” Grube said. “I think it will be a great experience for me and my friends.”
While there are still months to go and many plans to make before Springfest 2026 arrives, anticipation is already running high. Students across class years are looking forward to coming together once again, with Yung Gravy headlining what many hope will be another unforgettable Springfest.
