Homecoming: A weekend full of fun and family

This weekend, the parking lots, sidelines, and Harrisonburg hotels will fill as the families of EMU students flood to the 'Burg for the 2005 Homecoming and Family Weekend festivities.

The weekend, with the theme "Where Generations Meet," will hold a variety of activities to please the tastes of any member of the family.

Events kick off with the Homecoming Chapel Assembly, presented by members of the Class of 1973, with others. Later that day will be such events as the Loyal Royals Golf Classic and Donor Appreciation Banquet, followed by the Homecoming Concert, a musical presentation from EMU students, staff, faculty, and alumni.

Saturday has a full schedule of events as well. Each fall sport (with the exception of cross country) has a game on Saturday: women's volleyball at 12 p.m., men's soccer at 1 p.m., women's soccer at 3:30 p.m., and field hockey at 7 p.m. under the lights. There is also an early-morning Fun Run for all ages, breakfast recitals and discussions with several academic departments, and class reunion luncheons during the first half of the day. A special schedule of children (grades 1-5) and youth (grades 6-12) events will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., respectively. Children should meet in the Campus Center Greeting Hall for fun with the Student Education Association, and youth are to meet in the the Commons Welcome Center. Free lunch is included for all age groups, but children and youth must be registered (registration desk is open in the University Commons from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

Activities continue in the afternoon with book signings in the bookstore, the WEMC 50th Anniversary Open House, and Veronica Amstutz's gallery opening.

Saturday night's dinner will be a barbecue dinner with live music for students, parents, alumni, and friends. After dinner the Harlem Gospel Choir will perform in Lehman Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday's events begin with the Homecoming Worship Service in Lehman at 10 a.m., and the Multicultural/Black Student Union worship in Martin Chapel at 11:45 a.m. The Soul Food Cafe will also be in Martin Chapel, at 2 p.m., and will feature "Uncondtional." Amstutz's gallery will be open again as well.

This weekend's campus movie, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," will be showing at 9 p.m. on Friday and 8 p.m. on Saturday (see review, page 4).

Certain events require an admission fee, tickets, or advance reservations. Visit the website at http://www.emu.edu/alumni/homecoming/schedule.html for more information.