Although it is called the Woodchuck Festival of Music and Art, for many the main draw to the two-day festival is neither musical nor artistic. Even with 20 plus bands in attendance, the music itself takes a backseat to the experience as a whole.

The festival is expected to bring in many Eastern students and Charleston residents alike, to come and enjoy the festivities.

Many dedicated attendees intend on staying out there all weekend, camping on the fairgrounds and not leaving until the last note is played.

Doug Hagg, a freshman language arts major, said he is in it for the long haul.

Wearing his newly acquired Woodchuck bracelet, which grants him access to all the festival has to offer, Hagg talked about the crowd he is anticipating.

He said the kind of person he expects to see at the music festival like this is much more laid back and carefree then your average Eastern student.

“It is really the atmosphere that I’m looking forward to the most,” Hagg said.

Those that are camping out are taking quite the hit monetarily. Ryan King, a freshman undecided major recounted the numerous things he had to buy on top of the ticket itself.

“Even if you don’t count the ticket, after the tent and food to last all weekend, I’m basically broke right now because of this,” King said.

When asked which artists they were looking forward to most the responses were universally indifferent. Seth Kurber, a freshman undecided major, said he didn’t even know who was playing.

“That is not to say I don’t care,” Kurber said.

Kurber says he is a fan of the jam band/psychedelic rock genre that is filling most of Woodchuck’s stages. He knows he will enjoy the music but, like Hagg, that is not the main draw.

“We know what kind of music to expect, but just being at a legit music festival is by itself an experience,” Kurber said.

The name Woodchuck is an obvious homage to the great music festival Woodstock, particularly the one in 1969, which is the most iconic. There is an obvious drug culture to go along with the time period, and most specifically the Woodstock festival itself. Despite the legal ramifications, some festival-goers seek to continue the trend even today with the aid of mushrooms or other hallucinogenic substances.

A student who did not want to be identified considers the inclusion of such substances nearly essential to the overall experience.

“The mind opening affects of psilocybin complements the friendly, musical and psychedelic atmosphere of the fest perfectly,” the student said.

It isn’t called psychedelic rock for nothing, right?

According to the Woodchuck Facebook page, anyone found to be in possession of illegal substances or drinking underage at Woodchuck is in violation of the festival’s rules and will be thrown out.