By Sean Leviashvili

While PIKEtoberfest dominated Centennial Commons Saturday, a smaller event at the West Village Quad drew students and community members with games, T-shirt giveaways and free food.

The four-hour festival was sponsored by Residential Life (ResLife) and attracted more than 700 people throughout the day. The event was for the Boston community in addition Northeastern students.

Gary Honickel, a senior computer science major and Resident Assistant (RA) for the past three years, said WestFest was ResLife’s biggest event so far this year.

“Nothing of this caliber has been put on by the committee before,” Honickel said.

Students, faculty members, alumni, members of the Boston community and families strolled through the West Village Quad throughout the day.

Sakina Mika and Olawale Jahoid, two middle school students from Boston said they enjoyed what Northeastern offered enough to miss their practice for their school’s “Culture Day” along with their two friends.

Mika, who attends Roxbury Preparatory Charter School, said a police officer had asked if they were heading toward WestFest when they got the idea to come.

While WestFest was intended to reach neighboring communities, some students said they were not impressed by its success.

“My only complaint is that this is supposed to be a community event, and I wished it were advertised more,” said Katherine Palermino, a junior music industry major.

Activities like the Bungee run, Velcro wall, dunk tanks and counterfeit sumo wrestling sessions kept participants and coordinators coming back for more.

John Hatchem, a senior international business major, competed in a mock sumo wrestling match and beat his opponent, even though it was his first time playing.

Employees of Event Times, the company that provided service for the activities, said many of the participants were amusing. Carter Rankin, an Event Times employee, said the Velcro wall was a huge success and he was impressed by the different stunts people were attempting on it.

RAs ran concession stands and activities and were dunked into cold water at the dunk tank. Lines accumulated in all areas of the festival, but were especially long around the dunk tank.

The live music further lured students to the event. Hannah DeRemer, a sophomore from Emerson College, came with two of her friends to support musicians Baird Caner, Matt Starring and Louis Beaudrea, who performed originals and renditions of other artists’ songs.

“You don’t see such original artists that are so talented at such a young age,” DeRemer said. “It’s always important to support your friends. Besides, it’s a perfect day out.”

Sophomore American sign language and human services major Julie Miller said she enjoyed WestFest.

“WestFest is a really good way of engaging all students in Northeastern, not just freshmen,” she said.