Whether this will be your first, second or 40th Veishea, this year’s celebration will be filled with traditions, along with some exciting entertainment choices.

Many students pack up and leave in a mass exodus Veishea weekend because of what they perceive as strict rules and regulations.

They say it’s too boring. But these students likely have never taken the time to walk around and enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of Veishea.

The traditions of Veishea will still be here – cherry pies, Cy’s Big Top, minors in possession – but this year’s entertainment committee has managed to bring together a solid lineup.

On Friday, Jay Mohr will Dew the Rec at 8:30 p.m. Mohr, currently the host of “Mohr Sports” on ESPN, has starred in movies like “Go” and “Jerry Maguire.” He was also a cast member on “Saturday Night Live.”

As for music, this year Veishea is without a big, expensive concert. And it’s a good thing, too. Vertical Horizon and Five for Fighting did not draw large crowds last year. This year, Veishea’s Rock the Rec concert will feature Soul Asylum and Ultimate Fakebook. That takes place Thursday night, from 9 p.m. to midnight.

And it doesn’t end there. The Battle of the Bands, a Veishea stalwart, returns Friday on Welch Avenue from 2 p.m. to midnight. Come for the bands, stay for the Taste of Veishea just a few steps away.

This year’s Veishea celebration will provide plenty of entertainment options. And it doesn’t end there.

The traditional events that made Veishea a success are things some students fail to take a look at. Instead of whining about how you can’t drink for one week out of a year, get up early Saturday morning and go to the Veishea pancake breakfast.

Or go watch Randall Wreghitt, an ISU alumnus and speaker at the opening ceremonies on Thursday. Go see this year’s Stars Over Veishea performance, “Grease,” taking place this weekend.

And of course, don’t forget the parade. Saturday mornings at Veishea draw enormous crowds as people of all ages pack the sidewalks of campus to watch the parade go by. It may not sound too exciting to your average college student, but why not give it a chance?

Veishea is more than an excuse to go home for the weekend. It is the largest student-run, alcohol-free celebration in the nation. Sure, you won’t be able to get smashed in the dorms, but believe it or not, there is more to college than that.

So don’t leave. Don’t whine and complain about drinking rules. Don’t bother going home for the weekend. Go see the sights, see what Veishea has to offer, and take a couple hours this weekend to experience the events. It gets a bad rap from some students. Give it a chance and see what all the hoopla’s about.

editorialboard: Andrea Hauser, Tim Paluch, Michelle Kann, Charlie Weaver, Omar Tesdell