With warmer weather drawing larger crowds, students, alumni and even some non-members of the Cyclone Family strolling through Welch Avenue’s Taste of Veishea had mostly positive reactions to this year’s celebration.

However, not everyone was so sure Veishea was back on its feet quite yet.

Matt Goodman, a man many ISU students know only as “the gyro guy,” said business at his gyro stand at Welch and Chamberlain Street was doing pretty well, although he noticed a definite change in his clientele.

“A lot of people from around here aren’t here tonight,” Goodman said. “These are mostly alumni people and stragglers. Not regulars, but there are regulars from years past — people I remember.”

One of those non-regulars Goodman was referring to was Felicia Campbell, a student from Norfolk, Neb., visiting a friend for Veishea weekend. Campbell had come to Veishea the year before, and she said she was having a much better time in 2000, which she mostly attributed to better weather.

“There’s definitely more people here than last year; I’ve been having a great time,” she said as she watched Ames band Mr. Plow finish up its set on the Taste of Veishea stage.

Garrett Toay, former Government of the Student Body vice president, said he thought the crowd was much larger than last year.

“[Friday] night, it was pretty packed up here,” said Toay, senior in agricultural studies, as he stood on the east side of Welch. “It was almost like the Veisheas of old, without the alcohol. I know there were a lot of parties off campus, but as long as they’re not causing problems, it’s just like any other weekend.”

Some thought the increased enthusiasm on Welch during Veishea weekend was a sign that students were beginning to accept the concept of a dry Veishea.

“Last year, people were still uptight about the whole dry thing,” said Mike Magrin, senior in biological illustration. “I think people are realizing they’re still having fun without alcohol. I think it’s a great change of pace.”

But the memories of the old Veisheas are not gone yet.

“It’s still Veishea, and there are more people here this year because of the weather, but it’s kind of depressing not to see even more people out here,” said Bethany Jameson, a 1996 ISU alumna from Des Moines and a veteran of “too many Veisheas to count.”

“As long as Veishea is dry, there’s always going to be something missing,” she said.