Call your friends, call your cousins and grab a pair of pajamas. Because after May 16, Stegeman Coliseum will never be the same. It’s that time of the year again for the Southeast’s largest Pajama Party.

And this year, the party has gotten so big that the Coliseum was needed to hold everyone. Sponsored by my fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, this weekend will be full of colossal programs and socials that are attracting students from around the South.

The "Pajama Jam" is the largest activity but not the only one. If you’ve looked around campus, read the chalk and messages around Tate, then you would know that this celebration is a "big" event.

Not only was I looking forward to "Alpha Fest," the name of the celebration, but this year, it is extremely important to me because this is my first one.

Newly initiated as No. 1 of the Seven Pharaohs of Eternal Phire, I’m excited and looking forward to having a great time and watching people have a great time as well.

In addition, this weekend will be a time for everyone just to kick back and enjoy college life.

Thursday marked the beginning of "Alpha Fest."

If you missed the three-on-three Basketball Tournament, "Soul in the Hole," you still have time to take advantage of the weekend.

Tonight, students and visitors can venture over to Legion Pool and Legion Field for a celebration, which we aren’t solely sponsoring but are contributing to.

This event will get you warmed up for Saturday. Don’t party too much because you might want to save that energy for the big day.

On Saturday, you can catch us cooking out at Brumby, around noon. There will be free food, a disc jockey and people out looking for a great time.

But, when the cookout is over, and the barbecue smell has vanished from your breath, then get prepared for the "Pajama Jam."

If you don’t have any pajamas, then, I’d highly recommend that you go spend your financial aid money to get a pair.

Because when the Coliseum opens its doors and students start pouring in, you want to be in that number.

But, if you already have a pair of pajamas, throw them in the washer, iron them down and hop in line to get in the party.

Come with people that are looking for a good time and are ready to have a great time.

Don’t let anyone ruin your "Alpha Fest" and make the best of your weekend.

Not only is this party so big that the Coliseum has to hold it, but V-103, the popular Atlanta hip-hop radio station, had to provide the DJs for it.

Want to know how they are? You’ll have to be there to do. Just know that they are well known and will play what you want to hear.

After you dance and dance for hours, don’t go to sleep to soon after. Because many people are throwing after-parties and other events to make the most of the night.

Although this year "Alpha Fest" and "Player’s Ball," A Georgia Southern University event that draws crowds as well, landed on the same weekend, if I did have a choice, I would prefer to attend an event in Athens rather then drive hours away to Statesboro.

Basically, "Alpha Fest" is going to be "the bomb," and you want to be part of it.

So this weekend, if you see me smiling and having a good time, come over and speak.

Just yell out either "Mark," "Ace," or "Kaiser Soze,’" and I’ll answer.

– Mark Anthony Thomas is a staff writer for the Red and Black.