Homecoming

This year’s Homecoming (Oct. 10-12) is a “fair” cry from festivities of the past. A full blown festival is planned, including carnival rides, food vendors, entertainment and more.

Homecoming has been a plan in the making since the end of Homecoming last year. A survey was sent out on how to improve the event, which gathers current students, alumni, and the community.

Ashley Harwood, assistant director of Alumni Engagement, said, “There were a lot of comments saying we wish there was more food…we wish everyone was in one location because last year the tailgate was in one spot…that registration was in one spot…people wanted (it) more centralized.”

Harwood said, “With the food comment she (Samantha Pearl, director of Alumni Engagement) came up with the idea to have a bunch of food trucks over in the festival grounds area, but then it started snowballing.”

When asked about what he thought of the carnival, freshman James Bess, said, “I would definitely go. I think it adds more flavor to the choices we have for activities as Olivet College students during Homecoming.”

Tammy Walters, director of Event Coordination, Physical Plant manager, said, “(the carnival) fits right in between the parking lot (Cutler) and the varsity soccer field.” Walters also said that the area is being prepped with major updates for this 429-foot area with extra poles for lighting and making sure that the water and electrical is efficient enough to accommodate the rides.

Rides? Think Dizzy Dragon, Heart Flip, Loop Plane, a carousel, Gravitron, and Tilt-O-Whirl along with inflatable games. Food? Think regular carnival food, along with barbecue brisket, as well as beer and wine.

The festival grounds will be open Friday from 3 to 11 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. For a full schedule, visit www.olivetcollege.edu/homecoming.

There is no charge to enter the grounds, but tickets will be required for all rides and food. Tickets are currently 96 cents for college students, staff, and faculty using the discount codes OCSTUDENT, OCSTAFF, OCFACULTY, through Oct. 4 at midnight. Tickets will be $1.25 at Homecoming.

Of course there will be sports, including the Homecoming football game that pits the Comets against Adrian at 2 p.m., as well as soccer games at noon (women) and 3 p.m. (men). The traditional processional of the marching band and the athletes will be at 11 a.m. down Main Street.