This weekend was the very first Middlewest Fest, and it didn’t suck, at all.

In fact, it was the coolest thing to happen to DeKalb in quite some time.

Here are the five most important things I learned over the course of the two-day excursion.

1. There has to be a Middlewest Fest 2011

Hopefully, the festival becomes an annual tradition and something we’re known for and can be proud about. Let the momentum build, and next year can be even bigger. Soon, when you think of DeKalb, it will be corn, NIU, Cindy Crawford and Middlewest Fest.

2. NIU students are great filmmakers

Tucked away at the top of Debutantes School Of Cosmetology, 145 N. 3rd St., the “Against The Wall” film festival was one of the highlights of the weekend. Students from the department of communication screened their highly diverse 20-minute documentaries. “I Hunt Ghosts” followed a group of paranormal researchers investigating the haunted DeKalb landmark the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St. One eerie scene involves a cryptic voice from a ghost who allegedly haunts the building. Also featured were “Running On Empty,” an informative look at the dog race industry in Iowa, and “Legend,” an exploration into the lives of local band Legend Haz It. This was easily the best thing you could do for a few hours in between bands.

3. DeKalb is awesome

Walking around downtown DeKalb this weekend, you could hear music wherever you were. Van Buer Plaza was filled Saturday with tents of people selling original goods, and hippies hula-hooping freely. For a second, our fields of corn were the cultural epicenter of the Midwest; people actually came to our town! It was a good feeling, seeing the label of “suitcase school” wearing off for at least one weekend. There is no where else in the country Middlewest Fest could be beside DeKalb.

4. People like good music

No genre was spared this weekend. From nerdcore rap to folk to hip-hop to metal, anybody who has ears could find something they like. With a lineup of over 70 bands, people of all types were out in droves. All of downtown was filled with energy all day, non-stop on Saturday — even families were out there. I saw more people out at Middlewest Fest than I did when T-Pain performed at the Convocation Center.

5. Don’t get too drunk

At several shows this weekend, someone in the crowd got really, really drunk. At one, a dude wearing a king’s crown walked in and started belligerently dancing in front of the performers. Then he got up in the camera filming the show and put his whole head in front of it. It’s cool to have a good time, but when you think you’re royalty and convulsing onstage, you should probably go to sleep.