During homecoming weekend loads of events are planned, to celebrate alumni and the community. For the uninitiated, it might be difficult to work out what’s worth going to. Here’s a quick overview of the big stuff going down this weekend.
Friday, Oct. 12
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Festival on the Oval
Every year the homecoming festival arrives and transforms the Oval into the spot to be. With food trucks, live music from The Patti Fiasco and even a beer garden, it’s the perfect way to kick off homecoming weekend and get into the spirit even if football isn’t your cup of tea.
Activities for children will be provided alongside yearbooks for alumni to review and reminisce about.
The festival will run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Oval and is free to the public.
Homecoming Parade
The festival wouldn’t be complete without the annual homecoming parade which will feature floats made by both CSU organizations and other community groups.
The Homecoming Parade will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the corner of Washington St. and Laurel Ave. (just north of Alpine Hall) and move onto campus via the Oval.
Friday Night Lights
Before the big game, it’s important to get some Ram pride going. The annual pep rally will feature a bonfire, fireworks, and the lighting of the “A”. Be sure to prepare in order to keep pets, children or anybody sensitive to loud noises calm, and watch the skies for the light show.
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Friday Night Lights will kick off at the end of the parade, and everyone is invited to gather on the lawn west of Lory Student Center.
A full breakdown of Homecoming events is available at homecoming.colostate.edu
Saturday, Oct. 13
Tailgates
Saturday is gameday against New Mexico, and that means one thing other than football: tailgates galore. On the Intramural Fields, the College of Business will be holding their own tailgate with a promise of food and festivities. The Colorado State University Alumni Association will be offering more live music from Fort Collins band Write Minded and Colorado musician Julia Kirkwood.
It wouldn’t be a tailgate without a barbecue and beer, which will be available with the purchase of the CSU Alumni tailgate package. The package costs $20 for a ticket, which will come with “an exclusive Homecoming gift”.
All official tailgates will begin at 10 a.m. and go till 1:30 p.m. when it will wrap up before kickoff.
Homecoming Football Game
The CSU Rams will be facing down the New Mexico Lobos with kickoff at 2 p.m at Canvas Stadium. Tickets are available for purchase online and are free for students.
Sunday, Oct. 14
Homecoming 5K Race and Fun Run
For the first time ever, the 5K race has been moved to Sunday in order to avoid game day traffic and extend Homecoming for just one more day. The race will begin south of the Moby complex and travel through campus on a relatively flat route. Last year more than 1,500 runners participated and raised almost $45,000 for the Heart Disease Prevention Program of the Human Performance Clinical Research Lab.
Kids are invited to join a free fun run led by Cam the Ram.
Registration for the 5K is online and will run a participant $30.
Collegian reporter Graham Shapley can be reached at entertainment@collegian.com and on Twitter @shapleygraham.
