A Recap of Juice Jam 2021

By Nicole Aponte

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – University Union presented Juice Jam 2021 on Sunday, September 26th, 2021. Thousands of students filed in to North Manley Lot on South Campus, ready to enjoy and rock out to the star-studded lineup that University Union had chosen for this year. 

This is the first time since 2019 that Juice Jam was an in-person event because of the pandemic. Last year, Juice Jam was a virtual concert that many enjoyed from their dorm room. This year, students were able to take part in free food, bouncy castle slides and activities, and silent disco. 

22-year-old artist Audrey Nuna took the stage first, and her infectious energy could be felt throughout the crowd. She dropped out of New York University after her first year of college to pursue music, and has gained success in the past couple of years. 

Nuna was just happy to perform in an in-person setting, because most of her performances were done virtually or in front of small crowds. “People are realizing how lucky we are to do shows, and be together in certain moments,” Nuna said. 

Bea Miller and B.O.B took the stage next. These artists songs have gone viral on the popular social media app ‘TikTok’ and students waisted no time in singing along to the songs they knew. The crowd grew to its largest of the day when headliner Jack Harlow took the stage. Attendees could be seen on others shoulders or dancing along with their friends. It’s the simple things that the pandemic took away that makes the in-person Juice Jam that much more special. 

“The energy is back on campus, we feel like Syracuse Orange,” Junior Lily O’Connell said. “It’s part of being on campus, and it’s a little back to who we were before COVID hit.” 

Juice Jam 2021 was a success, and students were able to go home with a new sense of community.