Estefania Marmolejos, 16, is one of the 1.1 million people who follow Sanders on Instagram. And while she said it’s been cool to follow the campaign online, in the park she was literally wiggling with excitement, her smile so wide it looked like it probably hurt. “It’s crazy. I come here every single day, and it’s just like, a political figure? Here?” she said. “It’s amazing!”

Excitement like that is ubiquitous at Sanders events. In fact, one reason why live rallies are so critical to Sanders, in particular, is because of the nature of the campaign he is running. Sanders is fond of saying his campaign is “Not about me. It’s about you,” and anyone who’s ever been to one of his events knows that much is true. Whether it’s at a rally in Iowa City or in the South Bronx, Sanders’ crowds tend to be as excited by each other as they are by the candidate himself.

By now, they know what Sanders will say. He rarely strays from message. But it’s the energy of the audience that feels raw and new each time—the kind of energy that makes you want to toss off your shoes in the middle of a public park and jump around.