SEB hosted CougFest on Sept. 6 on Thompson Flats, featuring artists like Liam St. John, Madeline Hawthorne and Blaine Andrew Ross. The event also included food from Munchy’Z and a beer garden for guests 21 and older.

“CougFest has been an annual SEB event for a while — before I was hired into my role,” said Elizabeth Melcher, Student Entertainment Board advisor.

Planning for CougFest starts as early as the previous fall, Melcher said.

In 2023, SEB placed extra emphasis on CougFest to celebrate its 20th anniversary and plans to continue the momentum in future years, Melcher said.

“Artists typically release their tour and event dates early, so SEB tries to book performers a year in advance,” Melcher said. The final one to three months are spent finalizing details and the event timeline.

SEB maintains a list of artists they hope to invite, she said.

“I either reach out to the artists’ management directly, or I contact our middle agent to get rates and dates,” Melcher said.

Melcher is the primary planner for CougFest and works closely with the SEB concerts programmer, who serves as the main contact for the event and the artists. The rest of the SEB team assists as needed.

SEB programmers gain valuable experience in event management, working with talented artists and developing their skillset, she said.

“The most rewarding part of CougFest is knowing that WSU students are making lifelong memories at our events and forming an emotional connection with WSU,” Melcher said.