Editor's Note: This event has been canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.
The week after spring break, locals and college students, including Texas A&M University and Blinn College, are invited to downtown Bryan for a free night of music and entertainment that celebrates the Bryan College Station community.
In partnership with the Aggie Vanguards, the Downtown Bryan Association, and the city of Bryan, Maroon and White Night invites businesses and organizations into downtown Bryan with the hope of enticing students to head downtown. Happening on March 20, the event copies several elements from the DBA’s First Friday event model to create a distinct community event focusing on college students’ desires.
For Aggie Vanguards, a student organization with the goal of fostering connections to the community, the event is a great way to grow the bond between students and the community, says Ryan King, president of Aggie Vanguards.
“If you’ve been down there, you know that downtown’s very pretty with a lot to do, but a lot of students don’t even know about it,” says King. “Ultimately the goal is to keep education here and further develop this area, bringing in startups who have positions open for students to let them know that there are jobs here.”
King, a senior supply chain management major, says part of the inspiration for the event came from a discussion with venture capitalist Mike Troy, where King realized how directing college students’ attention towards local businesses can help develop local economic growth.
“One of the big things [Troy] mentioned is that the talented students with education want to like where they live,” says King. “Having students down here, seeing that this is a good place to live and that it has a lot to offer and a lot to do out here, that’ll get the ‘talent’ excited to live in this area. Because of that, those businesses will see that, too, bring more jobs, invest in more businesses, and build the community.”
Entertainment for Maroon and White Night starts at 7pm, with the Texas A&M Yell Leaders leading a yell practice. Then on the main stage, fan-favorite local band The Texas Unlimited Band performs alongside local artist Russell Boyd. Student organizations and local musicians will provide music and entertainment throughout downtown Bryan, performing at venues like the Palace Theater and the Grand Stafford Theater.
While the event focuses on college students, Maroon and White night has something for all members of the community. In addition to providing entertainment options, Texas A&M and Blinn student organizations will be downtown to showcase what makes their organization unique to members of the community. This opportunity for the B/CS community and student organizations to interact with each other will connect the community together, says Katelyn Brown, events coordinator for the Downtown Bryan Association.
“For the community members and local Aggies that come to this event, they might not realize that there’s so many student organizations,” says Brown. “It will be educational for the community to learn more about what the students are being involved in during their time here, but it will also be an opportunity for those student organizations to get the word out about what they’re all about and how the community can support them.”
Similar to First Friday, businesses in downtown Bryan will remain open through the length of the event, including offering special discounts to college students. Students who bring their Texas A&M or Blinn student ID will receive 12 percent discounts at participating businesses, says Brown.
One feature unique to this event, especially compared to First Friday, will be a shuttle service delivering people from various areas around town to downtown Bryan, says King. Working in partnership with Texas A&M’s Transportation Services, buses will pick up at the Memorial Student Center between 5:30 and 11pm.
Providing free transportation for students to head to downtown Bryan was essential, says Brown.
“Transportation is a huge issue for a lot of students,” says Brown. “Some people don’t have cars, just relying on the bus system. It’s been our long-term goal to have the Aggie spirit buses make a stop in downtown Bryan, so having free shuttles ... will be an added help to get those students down here, because transportation can be a barrier.”
More information about Maroon and White Night can be found online at www.downtownbryan.com/maroon-and-white-night.
