Few things lure more college students to the Hynes Conventions Center like swag and the promise of dancing to Soulja Boy live.

Students from around the Boston area were drawn to the Hynes Convention Center for College Fest 2008, a major source of free merchandise last weekend.

More than 100 sponsored tents from local, regional and national companies offered attendees a chance to sample drinks, try new products, win prizes and sign up for contests.

Fifteen thousand people were expected to attend the event over the course of two days, College Fest President Matt Britton said.

“People mostly come for the free swag,” he said. “The musical acts are an added bonus.”

Attendees came away everything from magazines to chap stick to school supplies to energy drinks to condoms.

JetBlue displayed “Blue Betty,” a 1992 Airstream vehicle that simulated an in-flight experience and also offered participants the chance to win two non-stop roundtrip tickets to anywhere the airline flies to.

The Nantucket Nectars booth hosted a Wii volleyball contest alongside a juice sample bar and photo area. People also waited in line to get inside Playboy magazine’s Playboy Lounge, where playmates autographed magazines.

“It always has the longest line,” Northeastern student Sean Boyle said as he waited to see the models.

Numerous musical acts played on both days, with Grammy-award-winning rapper Chamillionaire headlining Saturday and Grammy-nominated rapper Soulja Boy headlining Sunday.

“I came to see what it was all about,” Bay State College student Regina Dallaire said. “I heard you meet a lot of people and it’s a fun experience.”

Northeastern junior Jarod Chelo said he found out about the event after living in Boston for a few years.

“We come for the free stuff, not so much the musical acts,” he said.