This year’s YorkFest has come to an end, and with it, the new school year has begun. Running from Sept. 15 to 19, it featured several unique events for the student body, hosted by the York Federation of Students (YFS).
On the official YFS website, this year’s edition of the YorkFest was touted as the “LARGEST & MOST EXCITING welcome-back week in the country!” With the 2025 edition, several events took place throughout the week, including an open-air “village” on York Boulevard, where students could tour the campus and discover new clubs under the sunny sky. There was also a surprise concert by Jamaican dancehall singer Shenseea, famous for her hit song “Hit & Run” and her appearance on “Shake It To The Max.” That wasn’t all, of course — other events included an outdoor “Movie Under the Stars,” a “Battle of the Bands” and “The Grand Illusion Show.”
Many clubs were thrilled to be in the village – a brief walk around campus showed dozens of clubs out on the street, attracting passersby with candy, billboards, and signs. Among them was the Filipino Students’ Association at York (FSAY). Judeperle Aguilar, the club’s secretary, stated: “Over the years, our involvement has grown steadily, and events like YorkFest have played a key role in increasing our visibility and outreach. We believe YorkFest has given our club significant exposure, helping us connect with new students and the wider community.”
Founded over 40 years ago for the York Filipino community, FSAY has had a massive growth in interest. Aguilar further stated that “at our recent Fall Orientation event last Thursday, 170 people signed up to participate in our event, demonstrating strong interest in our activities and initiatives.”
For other students, Shenseea’s surprise concert on campus was the biggest highlight of the week. She rounded out the festival with her tour stop in Toronto, alongside DJ Shannyn Hill and Erin B. The event also had an afterparty, which was organized in collaboration by the United Caribbean Islands and the African Students Association. The two clubs came together for a first-ever co-hosting event.
“Our party was a mix of non-York students and York students,” said Oumou Barry, co-president of the African Students Association. “…I heard this concert was completely different in terms of the amount of people who went, and was more packed than I’d imagined.”
Barry helped to run the afterparty for the Shenseea concert, which was initially pitched by the club’s creative director as a place to give people a way to continue the night. The idea seemed far too big at first, logistically speaking, but eventually he was convinced to go through with it. “We just thought, why haven’t we thought of this already? This would be an amazing exposure for the club.”
“We spent the week planning up until the day of, and nothing beats the relief we felt once we realized everything was set for our event!” Barry added. Thankfully, everything went smoothly, and the vibes ran well into the night.
This year’s YorkFest was a resounding success for all involved, creating unforgettable experiences for students. And what better way to welcome the new school year than a weeklong festival? Many are already looking forward to next year’s event, but it remains to be seen if it can top this year’s vibes. Until next year, YorkFest, and hello to the new school year!
