NC State Homecoming '05
offers variety of activities

It’s much more than a parade and a football game.

Roger Winstead / Creative Services

Students celebrate on a float in last year’s homecoming parade. The parade is one of many events planned for NC State Homecoming 2005.

Led by the NC State Alumni Association and the Student Homecoming Committee, Homecoming 2005 contains a week’s worth of fun, food and frivolity for students, staff, faculty and alumni. The week culminates with Saturday’s noon football game against Southern Mississippi.

The Homecoming kickoff began Sunday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m. in Harris Field, as members of the university community enjoyed food and drinks while listening to live music and taking in an outdoor movie.

Student organizations and residence halls participated in weeklong contests to show their Wolfpack spirit. On Monday, student organizations paired up with Hillsborough Street merchants to decorate storefronts. According to Brooklyn Winters, director of special interest and campus programs for the NC State Alumni Association, “painting the town red” gave organizations outside the university the chance to get involved with Homecoming and create a festive atmosphere for all to see.

Student organizations and residence halls also competed in a banner contest on Monday. Contest winners will receive cash prizes and have their banners displayed at Carter-Finley Stadium on game day.

Thanks to the “Wear Red, Get Fed” activities on the Brickyard throughout the week, Wolfpack supporters wearing red were treated to free barbeque, pizza, drinks and other goodies.

Homecoming 2005 also focused on service to the community. A blood drive was held in the Talley Student Center Ballroom on Tuesday, while canned goods were collected at the blood drive as well as on the Brickyard on Thursday. All proceeds benefited the American Red Cross.

Today, students, faculty, staff and alumni can enjoy the Homecoming Parade on Hillsborough Street. Featuring NC State coaches and athletic teams, cheerleaders, the dance team, local bands, student-sponsored floats, vintage cars and more, the parade will highlight this year’s theme, “Dismiss Southern Miss.”

“Last year was the first time in 21 years that the parade took place on Hillsborough Street,” Winters said. “Hillsborough Street creates a much larger crowd of not only students, faculty and staff, but of people outside of the university.”

Roger Winstead / Creative Services

Members of NC State’s swimming and diving team march and ride down Hillsborough Street during the 2004 Homecoming parade. This year’s event will be held this afternoon beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The parade route is Varsity Drive to Sullivan Drive, Dan Allen Drive, Hillsborough to the Belltower, Pullen Road to Cates Avenue (which will be temporarily westbound only until the parade passes), Dan Allen Drive (south) to Sullivan Drive and back to the parking lot behind the tennis courts. The parade is expected to be in progress from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Western Boulevard traffic may also be affected. University employees are encouraged to plan their exit from campus prior to these times and/or avoid the parade route.

Following the parade, a pep rally will be held in Reynolds Coliseum. After the rally, the band Crossfade will perform at the Pack Howl concert. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and the pep rally will begin at 8 p.m. This year’s concert will be free of charge to students as a result of contributions from the Alumni Association.

Alumni will also have the opportunity to attend receptions and reunions for various clubs, organizations and groups. According to Winters, “Homecoming gives alumni an opportunity to come together to celebrate NC State and enjoy themselves.”

Posted Oct. 28, 2005

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