By: Andrew Koch

Students looking for a way to relieve stress from the last week of the semester have a place to do so as Student Activities Council (SAC) will host XavierFest 2013 on Friday, April 26 on the Xavier Yard.

The annual concert series, which began last year, showcases student bands and gives students an opportunity to unwind after the last day of classes. This year, the concert festival will also feature two non-student groups and will start at 5 p.m. and end at 10 p.m.

By bringing students together in a concert atmosphere, SAC is hoping to create an environment that will help students relax.

“The purpose of XavierFest is to bring students together for an end of the year celebration that will exemplify Xavier’s communal spirit,” Rebecca Griesmer, XavierFest chair, said in an email. “It will be a great chance for students to spend one of their last days on campus before the craziness of studying for finals begins.”

The traveling, non-student group called Thick as Thieves will open the concert at 5 p.m.

Rio and the Ramblers, headed by Xavier junior Rio Van Risseghem, will begin their set at 6 p.m., followed by student groups Do Your Dance (DYD) at 6:45, Cartesian Demon at 7:30 XavierFest to feature student and nonstudent artists at second annual concert p.m. and Vanilla Sake at 8:15 p.m.

Bad Veins, another touring nonstudent group, will close the show, with their set beginning at 9 p.m. In addition to being able to hear free live music, Griesmer said that students will receive free tshirts, Frisbees, stadium cups and pens while supplies last.

SAC will also provide students with free food from a variety of vendors, including LaRosa’s, Yagoot, City Barbeque, Qdoba, C’est Cheese Food Truck and Bruegger’s Bagels. Students over the age of 21 with a valid ID will also be able to purchase alcohol at a beer garden until 9 p.m. Griesmer said that SAC will limit beer sales to four drinks per student.