W&M Homecoming parade moves to Friday

Homecoming Parade W&M's annual Homecoming parade moves to Friday, Oct. 21 at 4:30 p.m. This year’s parade route will begin in front of William & Mary Hall, wind its way through campus and along Richmond Road until ending at the intramural fields.
Friday Night Fest Block Party Beginning at 6:30 p.m., Richmond Road and Scotland Street will be closed from Wawa to the Hospitality House and past Paul’s Deli, the College Delly and the Green Leafe. The block party will include live music, beer trucks and great food.

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by Mitch Vander Vorst, Alumni Association | October 19, 2011

The College of William & Mary’s annual Homecoming parade will move to Friday, Oct. 21 at 4:30 p.m. This year’s parade route will begin in front of William & Mary Hall, wind its way through campus and along Richmond Road until ending at the intramural fields.

Following the parade will be a pep rally at Yates Field and then the Friday Night Fest Block Party. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., Richmond Road and Scotland Street will be closed from Wawa to the Hospitality House and past Paul’s Deli, the College Delly and the Green Leafe. The block party will include live music, beer trucks and great food.

From Oct. 20-23, alumni from around the globe will make their annual pilgrimage back to William & Mary to celebrate and reconnect with classmates and their alma mater. The Homecoming football game will feature the Tribe taking on CAA foe Towson University at Zable Stadium on Sat., Oct. 22 at 3:30 p.m.

“Tradition is immensely important at William & Mary,” says Karen Cottrell ’66, M.Ed. ’69, Ed.D. ’84, executive vice president of the Alumni Association. “Our 84th annual Homecoming Celebration is sure to live up to what our alumni and friends have come to expect. We even have a couple surprises planned for the weekend.”

Highlights of Homecoming 2011 include:

Homecoming Parade: Fri., Oct. 21, starting at 4:30 p.m. (new time). This year’s Homecoming Grand Marshals are former William and Mary President Timothy Sullivan ’66 and First Lady Anne Klare Sullivan ’66, M.Ed. ’68, M.A. ’73, Ed.D. ’86.
Sunset Ceremony: Fri., Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. (new time) in the Wren Courtyard. The Sunset Ceremony is a remembrance of alumni, faculty and friends of the College who have passed away during the preceding year.
Friday Night Fest Block Party: Fri., Oct. 21 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at the Alumni House, Richmond Road and Scotland Street, featuring live music, carnival games and food and drink from local vendors.
Children’s Carnival: Sat., Oct. 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the front lawn of the Alumni House. The carnival allows youngsters to stretch their legs and have a little fun on campus enjoying a variety of activities.
W&M Football Game: Sat., Oct. 22 at 3:30 p.m. at Zable Stadium. The Tribe will take on the Tigers of Towson. Call 221.3340 to purchase tickets.
Saturday Night Bash: Sat., Oct. 22, from 8 p.m. to midnight in the Sunken Garden. The $55 entrance fee includes an unlimited open bar and a great menu. There will be a band, dancing and fireworks.
Complete Schedule is available at www.wmalumni.com/?homecoming

“Since the first Homecoming on Oct. 23, 1926, the Alumni Association has hosted the annual reunion for generations of W&M alumni, family and friends” says Cottrell. “The first Homecoming football game was played against George Washington University and the Tribe was victorious, winning 14-0 at old Cary Field. Since that first Homecoming, the alumni ranks have grown to more than 86,000 living alumni and the College has become one of the world’s leading public universities and among the best universities in the United States.”

The Alumni Association expects thousands of alumni, students, faculty, administrators, parents and friends of the College to participate in this year’s 84th anniversary celebration of Homecoming at William & Mary.

A complete list of campus events, prices and an online registration form are available at www.wmalumni.com or by calling the Alumni Programs Office at 757.221.1174, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Founded in 1842, the William & Mary Alumni Association is a separately incorporated nonprofit organization that encourages alumni of the College of William & Mary to remain active partners in the life of the university. The Alumni Association’s programs nurture friendships, inspire pride and build an appreciation among alumni for William & Mary’s long tradition of achievement.