The bricks in Athens will be filled with past, present and future bobcats for this year’s “All Roads Lead Home” Homecoming celebration.
There will be many events happening all week long to celebrate Homecoming. The City of Athens and Ohio University will team up to spread Bobcat spirit leading up to Saturday’s football game.
“Historically we can say about 3,000 alumni (come back to Athens),” Dawn Werry, a senior director of the Alumni Association, said in an email.
The Student Alumni Board will start the week on Tuesday with Pack the Pantry and Paint the Town Green. Pack the Pantry will be a competition between sororities and fraternities to help the Athens County Food Pantry by gathering as many canned goods as possible. Many local businesses and campus buildings will be decorated to show OU pride for Paint the Town Green.
Bobcats will also attempt to break a Guinness World Record for the largest cake walk on Wednesday afternoon. Only the first 500 people will be able to partake in the record breaking.
Starting Thursday morning, Alden Library will have a display of archives, including 20 tables covered with historic documents.
On Thursday night, the Marching 110 and The Singing Men of Ohio will perform at the annual Yell Like Hell Pep Rally. The event will draw in many people with the performances and OU giveaways.
The LGBT Center is celebrating National Coming Out Day with a SpeakOUt Rally on Friday at West Portico. All are welcome to come and share their coming out story.
Student Alumni Board will also be hosting a tour of campus on Friday at 2 p.m. for returning alumni. The tour will highlight the new additions to OU as well as take a look back at historical sites. Separate tours of residence halls will take place later on Friday.
On Friday evening, interested participants will have a chance to explore The Ridges with a historic hayride that offers free hot chocolate.
The Alumni Association's Annual Awards Gala will be Friday evening. The event honors distinguished alumni with a black-tie dinner. The Alumni Association “also welcomes student participation,” Werry said in an email.
A ribbon cutting ceremony for the Class Gateway Grand Re-opening will take place Saturday at 9 a.m. with speeches from university officials. Class Gateway was re-designed to include an ADA accessible ramp that leads to College Green.
The annual Homecoming parade, taking place Saturday at 10 a.m., will feature decorated floats, the Marching 110 and the Alumni Band. The parade will pass through Court Street this year and end near Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
“I make it a point to march with the 110 Alumni Band and perform in the halftime shows,” Doug Miller, a 110 alumnus who graduated in 1976 and is returning this year, said.
Donnajean DeSilva, an alumna who graduated in 1969, said she tries to make it to Athens from Columbus every year for Homecoming, adding that the parade is her favorite part of the weekend.
“I lived in Howard Hall, which faced College Green. The parade went by our dorm so I got a lot of good pictures.” DeSilva said.
Following the parade, OU students will be selling ceramic plates outside of Lindley Hall for a donation to help raise funds for the Southeast Ohio Foodbank and Southeast Ohio Regional Kitchen. Lunch will be available with the donation.
Bobcat Bash at Pepsi Tailgreat Park will be going on before the football game. The event will have food, drinks and games for all to celebrate before Ohio takes on Bowling Green.
“I can't wait to tear up the town with (my friends).” Miller said.
IF YOU GO:
What: Pack the Pantry
When: 11 a.m., Tuesday
Where: Konneker Alumni Center front lawn
Admission: Free
What: Paint the Town Green
When: 11:30 a.m., Tuesday
Where: Athens and Ohio University offices and businesses
Admission: Free
What: Breaking a World Record is a Piece of Cake: World’s Largest Cake Walk
When: 5:30 p.m., Wednesday
Where: Baker 1st Floor Parking Lot
Admission: Free, but donations are accepted
What: Ohio University Archives Annual Homecoming Display
When: 10 a.m., Thursday
Where: Alden Library
Admission: Free
What: Yell Like Hell Pep Rally
When: 8:30 p.m., Thursday
Where: Baker 1st Floor Parking Lot
Admission: Free
What: National Coming Out SpeakOUt
When: 12 p.m., Friday
Where: West Portico (College Green)
Admission: Free
What: WGSS Reunion & Roundtables
When: 1 p.m., followed by a reception ay 4:30 p.m., Friday
Where: 31 S. Court St., Suite 103
Admission: Free
What: Campus Tours
When: 2 p.m., Friday
Where: Konneker Alumni Center
Admission: Free
What: Historical Hayrides
When: 5 p.m., Friday
Where: The Ridges
What: Alumni Association's Annual Awards Gala
When: 5:30 p.m., Friday
Where: Baker Ballroom
Admission: Free
What: Visit Your Residence Hall
When: 6 p.m., Friday
Where: Living Learning Center
Admission: Free
What: Ohio University Women's Ensemble Alumnae Homecoming Weekend
When: 7 p.m., Friday
Where: Multiple locations
Admission: $20
What: College of Health Sciences and Professions Alumni Breakfast
When: 8 a.m., Saturday
Where: Grover Center
Admission: Free
What: Class Gateway Grand Re-Opening
When: 9 a.m., Saturday
Where: Class Gateway on College Green
Admission: Free
What: Alumni Coffee Hour
When: 9:30 a.m., Saturday
Where: Schoonover Center Lobby
Admission: Free
What: Homecoming Parade
When: 10 a.m., Saturday
Where: Union Street and Court Street
Admission: Free
What: Learning Communities Open House
When: 11 a.m., Saturday
Where: Chubb Hall 060
Admission: Free
What: Empty Plates
When: 11 a.m., Saturday
Where: Out Sp. Lindley Park
Admission: Free
What: Voinovich School Party
When: 11 a.m., Saturday
Where: Tailgreat Park
Admission: Free
What: Student Senate Office Open House
When: 11 a.m., Saturday
Where: Baker Center 305
Admission: Free
What: HTC Homecoming Mixer
When: 11 a.m., Saturday
Where: 35 Park Place
Admission: Free
What: College of Business Homecoming Tailgate
When: 11:30 a.m., Saturday
Where: Pepsi Tailgreat Park
Admission: Free
What: Economics Alumni Tailgate
When: 11:30 a.m., Saturday
Where: Pepsi Tailgreat Park
Admission: Free
What: Russ College Homecoming Tailgate
When: 11:30 a.m., Saturday
Where: Pepsi Tailgreat Park
What: Sociology & Anthropology Alumni Tailgate
When: 11:30 a.m., Saturday
Where: Pepsi Tailgreat Park
What: Bobcat Bash
When: 11:30 a.m., Saturday
Where: Pepsi Tailgreat Park
Admission: Free
What: Student Senate Tailgate Tent
When: 12 p.m., Saturday
Where: Pepsi Tailgreat Park
Admission: Free
What: OHIO vs. Bowling Green
When: 2 p.m., Saturday
Where: Peden Stadium
Admission: Free for students, $35-$40 for non-students
What: Bobcat Alumni Jazz Jam
When: 10 p.m., Saturday
Where: Casa Nueva, 6 W. State St.
Admission: Free
