Spring Fling has been a UA tradition since 1974, and the largest student-run carnival in the country aims to attract around 40,000 people today through Sunday, surpassing last year’s attendance.

The event, which will be held at Rillito Downs, attracted 30,000 people last year, and organizers are hoping to draw an even larger crowd this year with more live entertainment and new rides.

The new “”Slingshot”” ride, uses bungee cords and a safety harness to strap riders in before being slingshot and bounced around, is the most popular ride at the carnival said Spring Fling public relations director Cassie Coleman.

“”Basically, this ride will make you pee your pants,”” Coleman said.

Multiple live bands will be performing at the carnival this year. MetalHead, an ’80s rock cover band, will perform Friday night, and local rock band Ryanhood will headline today’s action. A magician from Las Vegas will entertain crowds throughout the weekend, as well as a group of UA hip-hop dancers.

Cliff Ogle, a political science junior, said he has enjoyed his time at Spring Fling each of the past two years.

“”It’s cool because you get to have (a) good time with your buddies, and then you see some other friends working the rides. It’s a different experience,”” Ogle said. “”You should go just to support your school if nothing else.””

The Honors Student Council was able to raise more than $1,000 last year by selling Papa John’s pizza. In order to have a booth at the event, each club was required to pay a $150 space-registration fee and set up the booth itself. However, the carnival is the primary fundraising opportunity of the year for most clubs.

Sarah Smith, a sociology senior and volunteer with the Honors Student Council booth, said Spring Fling is a great experience that is unique to the UA.

“”It’s part of the college and has been a tradition for years. It’s also a good fundraising opportunity for clubs,”” Smith said.

Spring Fling organizers are still trying to get more UA students to participate and attend. Coleman believes that students associate the carnival with the greek community, but that’s not the case at all.

“”Since the event moved offcampus, it has less of a university feel,”” Coleman said.

With all the construction at the UA in recent years, the event was forced to move from the UA Mall to Rillito Downs eight years ago.

Event organizers said they have struggled to get UA students to attend since the move, so they are trying to entice students to attend with the new rides and live bands. UA students get free admission with their student ID, but still have to pay for rides.

Anybody can get a $5 discount on an unlimited ride wristband by bringing non-perishable food items to donate to the event’s food drive.

The event’s hours are 4 p.m. tomidnight Thursday and Friday, noon to midnight Saturday and noon to 6:00 p.m. Sunday.