Pop-Up Palooza

For the fourth consecutive year, DU Entrepreneurship, in collaboration with DU Launchpad, hosted over 75 vendors at Pop-Up Palooza.

Similar to a farmers’ market, this campus event featured an array of items for sale ranging from prints, jewelry, ceramics and more. Add live music from DU bands to the mix, and the two are nearly interchangeable. 

“I think it’s a lost art of learning how to share your passions with the community,” Parker said. “This [Pop-Up Palooza] is an opportunity to try to get people out of their shells and want to try something new.”

The event itself was open to not just DU student vendors— instead anyone who wanted to sell their products was welcome. 12-year-old Aurora Curtis and 11-year-old Alexa Davie were one of four booths from the Ricks Center for Gifted Children. Their idea stemmed from the school’s annual Shark Tank project, where students are challenged to identify a problem in their lives and solve it.

“Our main problem was things spilling in your backpack and making a sticky mess,” Curtis said. “It’s always sticky, like even after you wash it.”

The prompt for the challenge was to “create something out of nothing.” For Curtis and Davie, the solution was stain-proof and waterproof bags made from upcycled stuffed animals and lunch bags. 

“Used stuffed animals either get thrown away or they go to waste, so we thought why not make something out of them,” Curtis said. Davie quickly added that although valuable for practical use, stuffed animals are also cute. 

Each booth displayed a unique product, showcasing the creativity of the community. But shopping wasn’t the only attraction for attendees. From free food to cornhole, every part of the green was alive with activities and live music.