Collectively, MayFest and Block Party last an intense nine hours or so. And those planning to go big or go home are going to need determination and strategy to last the entire day. Drink too quickly and risk slipping back to where you started: your bed. Move too slowly and Ke$ha’s performance might end before you get there.

Make it a game and use these Chutes and Ladders-style checkpoints to gauge your success. In this survival of the fittest game, the rules are simple: Make it to the end of the day — safely, of course.

Drinking at your apartment

It’s always tempting to stay in your apartment, in the comfort of your own home. Believe it or not, the risk, though, can be higher than the reward. It’s hard enough to have the energy to make it through Block Party, but throw in a few couches and a bed and you’re as good as asleep. Keep the momentum going with flip cup or pong, or consider leaving altogether. It’s MayFest after all, and day-drinking is totally acceptable. If you insist on staying home, play it safe and stay vertical.

Rando’s house

For the real Euclid loyals, there is another approach to partying on the east neighborhood streets: rollin’ with the randos. Euclid is bound to be packed Friday, and virtually every house will be hosting some kind of rager. Theoretically, you could just walk down the street, pick up a red Solo cup and have the time of your life without ever knowing who is hosting the party. Now there is a definite risk factor here — you don’t know what the people who are having these parties are into, and you could end up on the business end of a shady situation real quick. The return on investment is high, though. There’s no better forum for letting loose your inhibitions than with a bunch of strangers who have no idea who you are.

Friend’s house

Underclassmen, beware: Walnut Park is a sham. The old-timers, the MayFest veterans, will be getting weird on Euclid Avenue. Don’t think of the fact that the university doesn’t sponsor this particular part of the party as a hindrance, think of it as a benefit. The foolproof way of handling this is to approach all of your friends who have apartments on or bordering Euclid ahead of time and peer pressure them into doing their civic duty and hosting you on MayFest. You’ll get the benefit of being on the best party street in Syracuse, as well as hanging out with your closest comrades as you test the limits of just how reckless a human can get before 2 p.m.

Under 21

Though Walnut is often criticized as being the fake MayFest, there’s no denying its many perks, particularly for the under-21 crowd. After all, college students are in no position to pass up free food, and Walnut offers a cornucopia of super unhealthy, usually deep-fried options. Hamburgers, hot dogs, corn dogs — what’s not to love? And while you’re chowing down, don’t forget about the free entertainment: Earl Sweatshirt of Odd Future fame and electronic artist Sound Remedy will be on hand to get the audience excited for Ke$ha. And for those who show up early, RedBull is sponsoring a show by DJ Aylen and giving away free samples. It’s going to be a long day, so you might need the energy boost.

21 and up

Sure, you might be able to wander down Euclid and snag beers from a random house party, but you never know when that’s going to backfire. To avoid a possible MayFest melee, hit up Walnut Park and get your school-sanctioned beers, free of charge. Tuition costs more than $50,000 a year, so we might as well get something back, and what better way to be repaid than with beer? Students 21 and up will receive a tabbed bracelet by showing their SU IDs, valid driver’s licenses or government-issued ID. Only those older than 21 will be permitted in the beer section closest to E.S. Bird Library on Waverly Avenue. From 1-3 p.m., the bracelet entitles students to four complimentary beers, but from 3-6 p.m., students will only be permitted two beers each. Better get there early and drink up on SU’s dime.

Tailgating outside of the Carrier Dome

Congratulations! You’ve made it to the Carrier Dome, and that’s saying something considering half of your friends are in drunken dreamland by now. Think of this as the final stretch of your party-hard marathon, the make-or-break moment of your college drinking career. But don’t get too excited. Even the best trained drinker can fall from his keg stand of glory and find himself puking at the corner of Gate Q with nobody but security to drag his drunk ass home. So at this point, play it safe because you’re almost there. Ke$ha is waiting for you at the finish line, and we’re willing to bet she’ll have a bottle of Jack.

Published on April 25, 2013 at 1:43 am