The Student Activities Board unveiled the Drake Relays theme, hosts and artists at their annual Blitz Day event on March 30 for the upcoming Relays Week taking place April 20-26.
This year’s theme is “Run It Back to 2000s.” Sophomores Relays Co-Chairs Ava Hulse and Kendall DiRico say they chose this theme for the feeling of nostalgia it will bring to the week’s events.
“I feel like this is what’s in right now,” senior Relays host Chloe Lepak said. “It’s all over TikTok, like the Zara Larsson vibes. I feel like that is bringing back the Y2K. I feel like they really cooked with this, and I think it’s perfect.”
Along with Relays preparation excitement, the event also had free Jimmy John’s sandwiches and a raffle in which attendees could enter to win prizes including a record player, Beats headphones and Relays-related merchandise.
SAB revealed dates for the following events leading up to Relays: Relays 101 on April 8, Prelays April 13-17, Street Painting April 17-20, Carnival and Foam Party on April 22 and Relays Week April 20-26.
The hosts for the 2026 Drake Relays are seniors Chloe Lepak, Emerson Whittemore and Lucy Hemann.
“I literally had the cheesiest smile across my face when I got that email. I was at dinner with my friends, so I had to keep it a secret for a long time,” Whittemore said. “I’m so grateful to be able to do it and to be able to do it with two incredible other seniors to be friends with.”
Relays artist KYLE will headline the Relays concert April 24 on Forest Avenue, with Sage the Gemini opening.
“I couldn’t even imagine better artists. I know all their songs. I especially can’t wait for ‘Gas Pedal.’ I think these artists are really great and they’re going to hype us up,” Lepak said.
Student Body President Ty Walls believes the attendance at Blitz Day was at its highest ever.
“I feel like a lot of times people don’t show up for Blitz Day, but I feel like people showed out,” Walls said. “They showed up and came to support everybody who ran the event, who’s been in the event and involved within Relays. It was just a great sense of community seeing that.”
The Painted Street Square Raffle will be held at 4 p.m. April 15 in Sussman Theater. SAB introduced changes to Painted Street this year, including not allowing squares to be split between organizations.
More information about changes to Painted Street to come.
