West Virginia University students will celebrate Homecoming Week Oct. 13-19 with good works, good-natured fun and just a little campaigning.
Activities will include a benefit rock concert, blood drive, games and elections for king and queen. The week will culminate with the annual Homecoming Parade Friday, Oct. 18, and the Homecoming Game Saturday, Oct. 19.
“The students have come up with some exciting events to make this years Homecoming one to remember,”said Melanie Cook, coordinator of Student Organization Services.
The week kicks off at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, with a”Rockinon the Riverfront”concert at HazelRubyMcQuainRiverfrontPark. Popular local band The Argument will perform, and the Homecoming court will be introduced. Cost of the concert is $5, and proceeds will benefit the United Way of Monongalia and Preston counties. Students will be selling tickets from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 11 in the Mountainlair and at the park the evening of the concert.
Election for Homecoming king and queen will begin Monday, Oct. 14, with forums at noon in the Mountainlair and at 9 p.m. in the Evansdale Residential Complex Gold Room. Voting will be Tuesday, Oct. 15, in the ERC and Wednesday, Oct. 16, in the Mountainlair.
Other activities throughout the week include games, a Red Cross blood drive and a Greek song and cheer competition.
The Homecoming Parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday with former WVU administrators Horace and Geraldine Belmear as parade marshals. The parade down High Street will feature the Homecoming court, local high school bands, the Mountaineer Marching Band, the WVU Alumni Band, student floats and the Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales.
The week will conclude when WVU plays Syracuse at noon Saturday at Mountaineer Field. WVU officials will announce the Homecoming king and queen and honor the Belmears and Outstanding Alumnus Vaughn Kiger at halftime.
The WVU Alumni Association is planning several activities throughout the weekend. The Alumni Association and Student Alumni Association will sponsor a pre-parade reception at 5 p.m. Friday in the Mountaineer Room in the Mountainlair. The Alumni Associations pre-game tailgate tent will open at 10 a.m. Saturday in Tent City II.
WVU Black Alumni Weekend will also be held Friday and Saturday in conjunction with Homecoming. The schedule on Friday will include a social gathering starting at 9 p.m. at the Star City Holiday Inn. On Saturday, black alumni will gather at the EricksonAlumniCenter at 7 p.m. for a reception, buffet dinner, jazz concert and dance. Renowned jazz violinist and WVU alumnus John Blake will be the featured performer.
A highlight of the weeks activities follows.
Sunday, Oct. 13
“Rockinon the Riverfront”concert �€7 p.m., RubyMcQuainPark
Monday, Oct. 14
King and queen forum �€Noon, MountainlairCommons
King and queen forum �€9 p.m., Evansdale Residential Complex Gold Room
Tuesday, Oct. 15
Greek Games on the Green �€5 p.m., MountainlairPlaza
King and queen elections �€8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m., ERC
Wednesday, Oct. 16
King and queen elections �€8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Mountainlair
Blood drive �€Noon-6 p.m., WesleyUnitedMethodistChurch
Box car race �€5 p.m., MountainlairPlaza
Coach Rod Talk Show/Pep Rally �€7:06 p.m., Mountainlair Vandalia Lounge
Thursday, Oct. 17
Song and cheer �€5 p.m., MountainlairPlaza
Friday, Oct. 18
Homecoming Parade �€6:30 p.m., High Street
Saturday, Oct. 19
Homecoming Game WVU vs. Syracuse, noon, Mountaineer Field
King and queen coronation and other presentations at halftime