The sounds of acoustic guitar, harmonic and vuvuzelas filled the air Friday afternoon, as people of all ages gathered for a tailgate celebration of the NCAA's first women's soccer game played indoors.
Fans showed up in every combination of black, silver and gold to pack the Idaho Fan Zone on the north side of the Kibbie Dome.
Second-year grad student Steven Aragon was excited to relax after the first week of school.
"The girls playing under the Dome seemed pretty cool," he said. "We're going to win."
Children crunched through the yellow grass, yelling, chasing each other around in circles and bouncing in the inflatable castle – only stopping long enough to inhale a Chick-fil-A sandwich. Booths with frisbees and shiny pom-poms provided plenty of entertainment throughout the afternoon.
Eric E., the evening's entertainer, encouraged attendees to shout a year. E. then picked a song from that year to play for the crowd. Children shouted for a song from 2017.
E. started a song from 1990.
"I love to support a specific cause," he said. "And I love soccer. I just love to support the girls soccer. It's great to see so many people here early to support them."
President Chuck Staben mingled with fans and introduced himself to students in line for food at Chick-fil-A and Duke's Place food truck.
Friday was freshman Valerie Blackburn's first athletic event at UI.
"Everyone's so nice," she said. "I don't know very much about sports but I want to get into the school spirit."
People passing the celebration shouted, "Go Vandals!" as they drove by.
Autumn Craig, a 2001 graduate from the Lionel Hampton School of Music, joined Eric E. up front, bringing a small egg shaker.
She said she always carries one in her purse.
"You never know when you're going to need to shake it up," she said, laughing.
Joy Newlam, her family and friends hung out in the parking lot, eating snacks and playing cornhole.
"Our family likes sporting events and our daughter plays for Moscow United," she said. "It's exciting, and a great opponent."
In addition to many Moscow United participants, members of the men's and women's Bantam Soccer teams made an appearance.
UI women's soccer coach Derek Pittman came out to fire up the crowd, passing out scarves and thanking those in attendance.
After, Eric E. led the crowd in a rousing, call-and-response version of "I Would Walk 500 Miles"  by The Proclaimers.
The sitting area was a sea of silver and gold. On the edge of the crowd sat Violette Beall and her daughter Zoie, who were enjoying some crinkle fries and ketchup. The two came in from Potlatch for the game.
"She plays at home," Violette said. "She's got a ball at home."
As Eric E. left for a break, the Sound of Idaho Vandal Marching Band rolled in to fill the silence. With the horns and woodwinds came Joe Vandal, giving high fives all through the crowd.
"Do you want to go see the drums?" a mother asked her two young boys. The three moved closer to the drumline to watch they play.
The cheer squad moved with the music, their pom-poms catching the evening light.
Children and their parents danced along with the band. With another round of the fight song, the band shimmied up to the Dome, leading the way for crowds of families.
Joe Vandal stayed behind to sit and socialize with the last few people finishing their dinner.
As the sun moved down in the sky, the stragglers made their way to the Dome to watch the Vandals take on the Broncos.

Idaho takes on Saint Mary's at 12 p.m. on Sunday in the Dome.  A free live stream will be available at GoVandals.com/WBS or through the PlutoTV app.  Live stats will be available at GoVandals.com/socstats.