Gina Parker is a senior at the University of Denver who created one of Entrepreneurship@DU’s signature events. In this article, she shares her experience creating and growing Pop-Up Palooza.
What: Pop-Up Palooza
def. Pop-Up Palooza is a vibrant, student-led event at the University of Denver that combines the energy of a music festival with the creativity of a makers’ market.
Location: Campus Green (in front of Sturm Hall)
When: Late May
Pop-Up is a place for DU’s budding business owners, artists and musicians to share their work, connect with the campus community, and gain real-world experience promoting their passions, no matter their academic discipline. With live performances, interactive booths, and a variety of unique products and ideas on display, Pop-Up Palooza celebrates innovation and creativity while fostering a supportive environment for student entrepreneurs.
The Origins
My freshman year at the University of Denver was fueled by dining hall soda and the excitement of starting something new. In the fall of 2021, I dove into DU’s entrepreneurship program, taking Intro to Entrepreneurship and BUS1440: The Fourth Industrial Revolution.
These courses ignited my passion for innovation and introduced me to a community of ambitious and inspiring students. Together, we brainstormed products and services to make a difference in the world.
This experience, coupled with the connections I built with professors and peers, led to an invitation to the quarterly Entrepreneurship Dinner—a gathering where students and speakers share their projects and ideas. It was at this dinner that the spark for Pop-Up Palooza was born. After meeting so many talented and driven students at DU, I knew I wanted to create a space to showcase their creativity and ambition. The idea for a music festival and farmers market combo made sense. It would span the length of the Campus Green in an afternoon filled with student bands and vendors. And with a play on words that referenced one of the country’s largest music festivals, Lollapalooza, Pop-Up Palooza took center stage.
With support from Director of Entrepreneurship Joshua Ross and Special Projects and Events Manager Ashley Mercer, we started planning the very first Pop-Up Palooza. Held on May 22, my friends and I got busy designing posters and sneaking into every DU building to plaster them on bulletin boards. From hyping up the DU band scene to convincing art students that entrepreneurship isn’t just for business students, the event began to gain some traction and interest, and we began to attract bands, vendors, and student entrepreneurs that were eager to participate.
Our initial poster featured Colorado’s iconic snowy mountains—an ironic choice, as we ultimately had to relocate the event indoors to the Community Commons due to weather. Despite the challenges, Pop-Up Palooza came to life, and with it, a celebration of the incredible talent and entrepreneurial spirit at DU. The first year, we had 33 vendors and four student bands join us. The afternoon buzzed with excitement as students finally had a place to share their talents, passions and ideas with the DU campus.
Year 2
As my sophomore year approached the spring quarter, the second annual Pop-Up Palooza began to form. Working to make it bigger and better then the last, we invited more students to join us and highlighted the importance of the event being “student-made and -run.” My dear roommate at the time, Hannah Kahan, made the poster, and my other roommate helped me table outside Sturm, decorate buildings with the vibrant pink posters, and spread the word through class presentations. The Pop-Up Palooza Instagram page was born, and we began marketing campaigns to spread the world digitally. We had 43 vendors and four student bands at Pop-Up Palooza 2023. The burning Colorado sun during May was a welcome change to the year prior as well.
Year 3
Year 3 had to be bigger and better. And I am happy to report that it was. Through spreading the world to underclassmen, specifically first-years, and creating more marketing material (thank you again, Hannah), the word seemed to spread faster and further. We made tie-dye T-shirts with “STAFF” printed on the back to honor the hard work all of The Garage crew put into our event (and give us an excuse to match). We had 73 vendors at Pop-Up Palooza 2024, again, accompanied by four rocking student bands.
Year 4 and Beyond
Now, as a senior, this is the last year I will have to plan and throw Pop-Up Palooza for my campus and acquaintances. This event is very near and dear to my heart, as I’ve witnessed the spark of entrepreneurs selling their first products, paintings or CDs. Through Pop-Up Palooza, we create a space where anyone who has anything to share— from a small business, to a grandiose painting, or new guitar riff—can get support and interest from their own community.
At its heart, Pop-Up Palooza is about more than music, art or business—it’s about building a community where students feel empowered to share their passions and support one another. As I prepare to pass the torch, I know this event will continue to inspire DU students for years to come.
