Hawkapalooza is back for another year to celebrate the first home football game against the Iowa State Cyclones.

The festivities will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday in Hubbard Park where students, community members, and alumni can participate in a daylong "Ultimate Tailgate" that will help to raise the Hawkeye spirit of the student population. Admission is free for all events.

During the tailgate students can win prizes like free food and Hawkeye gear while also having the opportunity to meet the Executive Board of the Hawks Nest.

This meet and greet is an attempt to get students more involved in Hawkeye athletics and learn how they can become apart of the organization.

Following the tailgate will be a pep rally that will include this year’s fall athletic teams including football, wrestling, and men/women’s basketball.

Since the event’s creation in 2009, Scope Productions and the Hawks Nest have attracted the interest of over 10,000 students.

Artists such as Lupe Fiasco, Big Boi, and Mike Posner have taken the Hawkapalooza stage for a night of great entertainment.

This year, T-Pain will make his Iowa City debut and play a concert at 7 p.m. in the park.

The Grammy award-winning artist calling himself the "King of Autotune" will play songs from his most recent album rEVOLVEr, which includes songs like "5 O’Clock" featuring Lily Allen and Wiz Khalifa and "Best Love Song" featuring Chris Brown.

– by Samantha Gentry