One boat. Two a cappella groups. One big, romantic party.

On Saturday, Feb. 17, Northwestern’s a cappella groups Freshman 15 and X-Factors will team up for a show on the Spirit of Chicago, a cruise ship at Navy Pier.

Erik Kaiko, the producer of X-Factors and a Communication senior, says the night will mostly be a celebration, with Valentine’s Day only three days before. As the Spirit of Chicago cruises around Lake Michigan, the groups will perform together and continue the party until the boat docks back into Navy Pier.

F15 and X-Factors will perform together in hopes of encouraging more collaboration between student groups in the future.

“It’s a healthy thing for groups to collaborate, because you share responsibilities and you get to know each other,” says Eli Goodman, the artistic director of F15 and a Weinberg senior.

“Some groups already collaborate,” Kaiko says. “We’re taking it to another level by making this show/party more of a formal.”

X-Factors is a co-ed a cappella group which practices three times a week. The group formed in 2001 and had their first performance at a Valentine’s Day show with F15. Its members represent all six NU undergraduate colleges.

“There’s a lot of variety in the group,” Kaiko says. “Some people are involved in the arts, and others are in Greek life. It’s a group of people that might not have otherwise met.”

The boat show will be a unique event for the NU student body to get outside campus, Goodman says.

And onto Lake Michigan.

“A cappella fan or not, you’ll have a good time,” Kaiko says.

The event is open to every NU student. Buses for the event leave at 5 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $50 per couple and $30 for singles; they’re available at the Norris box office.

-Moira Lawler