A childhood playground game is getting a supersized, competitive twist this weekend at the University of South Alabama, where students and community members are invited to take part in a mass game of musical chairs that raises money for charity.
Mega Musical Chairs is set for Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at USA’s Student Center Amphitheatre in Mobile. Organizers were reporting brisk ticket sales heading into the event, with more than 250 spots already claimed by Friday morning. Entry costs $5 in cash or $5.50 by card, and every participant who registers early enough receives a free 2015 Mega Musical Chairs T-shirt made by Comfort Colors, with shirts available for pickup the day of the event. Only the first 350 registrants are guaranteed a shirt.
Beyond bragging rights, players compete for a chance to win prizes donated by local Mobile-area retailers and restaurants. But the larger draw for many participants is the charitable angle: whoever wins the final round of chairs gets to direct the event’s proceeds toward a nonprofit or cause of their choosing.
The event has deep roots in disaster relief. It began several years ago as a grassroots effort to raise money for survivors of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti, giving University of South Alabama students a hands-on way to contribute to international relief efforts. Since then, the format has evolved into a recurring campus tradition that lets each year’s winning student direct the funds toward whatever charitable cause matters most to them, rather than a single fixed beneficiary.
Past editions of the giant musical chairs showdown have generated more than $1,100 for various causes in a single afternoon, according to organizers, a notable haul for an event built around a game most participants haven’t played since elementary school. The mix of nostalgia, competition and charitable giving has helped the event build a loyal following on campus over the years.
Organizers are continuing to sell tickets through the event website and are encouraging last-minute participants to register before Saturday’s session begins. With more than 250 tickets already accounted for ahead of the weekend, USA’s amphitheatre is expected to draw a lively crowd for the noon-hour showdown, mixing music, laughter and a friendly scramble for open seats, all for a good cause chosen by whoever manages to outlast the rest of the field.