Students pose in front of carnival rides at Mason Day on April 24 in Fairfax, Va. (Jalynn Kirabo / Fourth Estate)

Even with rain and an unexpected headliner cancellation, crowds poured into Mason Day

BY ALEXANDRA HENRIQUES, STAFF WRITER

On the morning of Mason Day, Mason’s annual end-of-year celebration, Student Involvement announced that headliner Waka Flocka Flame pulled out of his performance. 

Shortly after, they announced a new headliner — JT from City Girls. 

“He breached the contract. But we upgraded,” Student Involvement Associate Director Hope Miller said in an Instagram comment on the GMU Barstool account. 

Based on the largely positive response from the student body, she was right. After the announcement, floods of “JT coming” comments and reposts on Instagram flooded in.

“I don’t really listen to either [artist],” junior Veronica Mayfield, a Computer Game Design major, said. “I usually only go to Mason Day to spend time with my friends.” 

When Mason Day started at 3 p.m., students came in as excited as ever, most sharing the sentiment that the event is a great way to promote school spirit and spend time with friends. According to University Life, over 7,000 people attended Mason’s longest-standing tradition. 

“I usually don’t go to many school events, but I always go to Mason Day and it makes me feel very ‘Patriotic,’” recent graduate Sophie Maestas said. 

Maestas also said this Mason Day was the best she had attended, highlighting the different performers and activities. 

Performers on stilts walked around the lots, taking pictures with attendees and making jokes from above. Stuff-a-plush, caricature sketches, laser tag, silent disco, airbrush tattoos and more activities provided hours of entertainment. 

Student Involvement brought in an external company for the usual fair amusement, such as the Ferris wheel, pendulum and swing, midway games and bungees. Additionally, this year, Mason Day brought in local businesses who tabled their art, jewelry and even press-on nails, giving students a chance to shop small. 

Mason students wait in line for a carnival ride at Mason Day on April 24, 2026. (Jalynn Kirabo/ Fourth Estate)

Senior Health Informatics major Sona Adhithi said her favorite parts of Mason Day were the “little activities such as the photobooth, the photo keychain and face painting.” As a graduating senior, she said it felt bittersweet. 

When the rain came down around 6 p.m., it seemed that no one was deterred. Those who huddled under tents expressed the want to wait out the storm and continue to experience everything Mason Day had to offer. 

While JT came on stage late in the evening, the crowd still seemed to love her performance.

“I was a little disappointed with Waka Flocka pulling out of the event with such little notice, but JT was absolutely incredible,” Adhithi said. 

Rapper JT waves to the crowd during her headlining performance at Mason Day on April 24, 2026. (Jalynn Kirabo / Fourth Estate)

Overall, even with its setbacks, Mason Day once again brought the community together for a day of games, food and music. 

“I like seeing everyone out and wearing Mason colors and being nice to each other,” Mayfield said. “I feel like that’s not seen on the Mason campus a lot.”