Bert Bala THE EXPONENT
Students braced the cold to enjoy food and watch local bands at the Pray for Snow music festival last Saturday. The event was held as a replacement for the annual Rail Jam skiing and snowboarding competition.
The Associated Students of MSU (ASMSU) and the Office of Student Engagement normally host Rail Jam, but this year’s lack of snow led to its cancellation, according to the MSU News Service.
“Rail Jam is such an iconic event on the MSU campus,” said ASMSU Assistant Events Director and financial engineering major Kershaw Mellott. “The key factor is the snow and, with a year like we’re having, it’s real tough to do a Rail Jam like we know and love.”
For the past four winters, the Dobbie Lambert Intramural Fields have transformed into a snowy slopestyle course. There, athletes competed for the chance to win prizes, and the campus community came to watch. This year, Pray for Snow was held in the Romney Oval.
“We still want students to be engaged on campus,” said business major Josey Blazer, the ASMSU events team marketing associate. “We still wanted students to have an event to look forward to.”
According to ASMSU At-Large Senator and liberal studies major Ben Wilson, the goal was to get students involved. “It’s really unfortunate that Rail Jam isn’t happening, but we tried our best to still give people a great time,” he said.
ASMSU President Lenny Triem said the Pray for Snow event was designed to mirror past Rail Jams and honor MSU’s skiing and snowboarding culture. “We’re mourning Rail Jam as well,” he said.
The 2026 spring semester would have marked Rail Jam’s fifth year. “I’m a little disappointed that it got canceled, but I mean, what can you do with this little snow?” said attendee and mechanical engineering major August Kreiter.
The festival featured four live band performances and a prize raffle. There were also several food trucks present, and free meal vouchers were given to the first 150 people to arrive.
Several students attending the event voiced their enthusiasm. “I think it’s pretty sick,” Kreiter said. “I’m excited for free food, good music. It’s a little cold, but that never stopped me before.”
“The stage setup is awesome over there,” said kinesiology major Griffin Stagg. “It’s just in the middle of campus; it’s a great spot.”
According to Triem, events like this allow students to connect. “It’s a way to foster community. It’s a way to bring people together to have fun,” he said. “Big events like [these] are unique circumstances where you can make those connections and spend time with friends.”
“I hope that [students] come to next year’s Rail Jam, snow willing,” Triem said. The Rail Jam tradition is set to continue next spring, according to him.
