The 18th annual Fun and Fitness Festival takes place at the Recreational Center Courtyard on Wednesday, September 21, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The event serves to inform the UCSB community about recreation programs such as Sport Clubs, Intramural Sports, Adventure Programs and Leisure Review.
The event is organized by Recreational Sports marketing and career staff employees, with Relations Student Manager Max Bayuk guiding the project’s overall direction.
"I want to make sure there's something for everyone and that we implement all of our creative ideas," Bayuk said. Among a handful of daily challenges, today Bayuk says, "the challenge is figuring out how to get ice cream at the event. Everyone loves ice-cream." This year, McConnel's is partnering up with Max to make that vision a tasty reality. Along with ice-cream, students can expect free food, drinks and prizes from FRS, Woodstocks, Silvergreens, Ramada, Isla Vista Bookstore, Complete Nutrition, and Jungle George Grill.
Attendees will also receive free Recreational Sports gear, including canvas backpacks, tank-tops, wrist bands and redeemable cash coupons. Students who bring their Rec Sports wristband from one to two are guaranteed a free tank-top.
This year Bayuk and his team expanded their invite list, and are expecting more than 5,000 attendees.
Bayuk stepped into his position as Relations Student Manager rather abruptly, as the former manager temporarily stepped down this summer. Bayuk, a sophomore economics major, was eager to take on the extra responsibilities. 
"Max showed promise from the first time I met him," Marketing Student Manager Rochelle Farnum said, "He's the only freshman who came with typed questions to his interview. You can tell he's hungry."
(Rochelle was making an analogy, but on a more literal note, Max is training for the Cal-zone challenge at Giovanni's. Stay posted on gauchosplay.com for more about his extreme stomach-stretching regiment).
Bayuk doesn't confront the organization of the Fun and Fitness Festival alone, additional staffers, such as Relations Coordinator Loryn Ferreira, organizes many of the event's finer details.
Ferreira lined up musical performances for the event, and is responsible for securing media equipment and logistics for event VIP's.
"For freshmen it's a great social event before school starts," Ferreira said. "I really wish I would have gone freshmen year. I wondered where everyone is getting all this free stuff!"
Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in interactive booths, sign up for classes and events, and learn about the Recreational Sports program. It's also a great time to meet and greet new faces, grub on free food, and check out live musical performances from student groups.
The Recreational Sports program features 22 Sport Clubs, 18 Intramural Sports, and 15 Adventure Program areas for students to become actively involved with the university.
Fall intramural sign-ups begin September 12th and Sport Club tryout dates can be found by contacting coaches and team mangers. Contact information is located on respective team pages on www.gauchosplay.com.
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