Weber State University is having a Block Party on Friday to get students to learn about different organizations at their school. The Block Party starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m. It will take place on the Ogden campus, covering Moench Mall up to the Bell Tower Plaza.

The Block Party will feature more than 150 booths for different departments, clubs and organizations from WSU.

“It is open to all the departments and clubs and organizations at WSU,” said the coordinator for union programs, Nikki Nicholas. “Local businesses that supply services for students are also invited to attend.”

At this year’s Block Party will be a new Taste of the Town event, where students, faculty and staff can sample food from the area’s restaurants.

“I think this was great, putting this new event, because, in that way, students can get very familiar with the food around them,” Nicholas said.

She said another thing students can enjoy about this Block Party is the President’s Purple Pancake Breakfast.

Students can use the Block Party as an opportunity to wipe out their school to-do lists, gain information and engage in activities.

The Block Party has been around for eight years, and it keeps growing every year.

“This will be our eighth year of having the Block Party, and always know that it is the largest student-supported event on campus,” Nicholas said. “We always look forward to the Block Party traditions, such as the Purple Pancake Breakfast.”

She said she is always excited to see the excitement and interest on campus that the Block Party generates for students.

Students will be able to purchase a pass for about $5 for seven or eight samples from local restaurants.

“In the past, we’ve always invited local restaurants to be part of Block Party, but this year we thought we’d do something different,” said the coordinator of Taste of the Town, Melissa Banford. “This year we’ve invited a bunch of local restaurants to come up and offer samples of their best food. . . . it’s something people won’t want to miss!”

Banford said the restaurants coming include Lucky Slice Pizza, University Broiler & Grill, Barbacoa, Grideli’s and Pita Pit. The proceeds will go toward next year’s Block Party.

Students who purchase a pass can visit each restaurant and a few select booths to enter to win prizes, including gift certificates for Texas Roadhouse, Outback Steakehouse, Woody’s Bar-B-Q and Jake’s Over the Top.

“This is going to be a fun event that will bring the community and campus together in a whole new way,” Banford said. “Tickets for A Taste of the Town will go on sale the first day of school, Aug. 27, and can be purchased at the info desk.”

The Block Party Committee’s secretary, Jackie Edwards, said it is always exciting to see how creative everyone is and to enjoy the fun with practically the whole campus outside for the day.

“We expect to ‘capture’ students as they are on campus attending classes, so they can learn about what services are available to them here at WSU and in the surrounding community,” Edwards said. “I hope they have some fun and enjoy the day.”

She said she hopes to see all the students with their families and friends there.

“This is an opportunity no one should miss out on,” Nicholas said. “Everyone should make plans to be there.”