Volapalooza, UT’s free concert celebrating the end of the school year, was initiated by the Campus Entertainment Board in 2002. The initial event, held in Circle Park with a few local bands, attracted about eight hundred people. Because it outgrew Circle Park, the concert was moved to Fiji Island. In 2004 Grad Finale, featuring live music, free food, and a keynote address by Spruill Driver, UT National Alumni Association president-elect, was held on May 7. The event, a student initiative for which Aloha Oe served as a model, was held immediately after graduation practice. Andrew Shafer and M. G. Bailey were the principal creators of the event. The second Grad Finale was held on May 6, 2006, in Neyland Stadium.
In 2007 the cancellation of spring commencement because of renovations to Thompson-Boling Arena led to the inauguration of a series of events (Kickoff to Commencement) geared to graduating seniors, at the heart of which was the Aloha Oe ceremony. In 2010 the two end-of-semester traditions were combined as ending activities of the semester. Because of the large attendance anticipated for the three 2010 concerts, the events were moved to World’s Fair Park, and more than eight thousand people attended. In 2011, due to inclement weather, the event was moved to the RecSports fields on Volunteer Boulevard. It was held in Thompson-Boling in 2012. Students were first charged to attend the event in 2011.