Homecoming 2019 is just around the corner, with plenty of activities planned for the Emory community. Student festivities begin Monday, Oct. 21, and events for students, families and alumni continue through Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, Oct. 24-27. 

Everyone in the Emory community is invited to the annual Homecoming Parade on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 1 p.m. Bring family or friends and snag a viewing spot at the Emory Student Center or around Asbury Circle.

A concert and festival sponsored by the Emory Alumni Association will follow. Stop by McDonough Field from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. for lots of food, fun and music from Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Kristian Bush. An Emory alumnus and Atlanta resident, Bush sold more than 22 million albums with partner Jennifer Nettles as Sugarland and continues to perform as a solo artist.

Every year is special, but 2019 brings several important anniversary celebrations: 100 years of the Goizueta Business School, 100 years of Laney Graduate School, 100 years of The Emory Wheel and 150 years of Greek life. The Carlos Museum also is celebrating 100 years, and is offering free admission to all alumni and student families during Homecoming and Reunion Weekend.

Swoop into student events 

Student Homecoming activities will focus on a “Swoop State” theme. Homecoming chairs Emma Giarracco and Ruby Wiener say the idea embraces school spirit and promotion of the things that make Emory unique.

“People outside the university often ask how we have Homecoming without a football team,” says Wiener, a sophomore from Allentown, Pennsylvania, majoring in biology and interdisciplinary studies. “We chose this theme to answer that question. Emory school spirit is about so much more than one team. We can boast of multiple sports teams that have won national titles and of students who are outstanding achievers not only academically, but also in research, social and environmental justice and so much more.”

Activities will begin with Move into Swoop State on Monday, Oct. 21, an event that introduces the theme through first-year Residence Hall-based games run by various campus organizations.

Wiener says Tuesday’s Brains vs. Brawn competition will test competitors’ intellectual and athletic aptitude through activities including TedX talk debates, carnival strength games and an arcade basketball shoot-out. “We want to see who has the brains and brawn to be the star quarterback of our undefeated football team,” she says. 

Wednesday will bring the first Wonderful Wednesday After Dark for the academic year, featuring lawn games and inflatable sports in Asbury Circle.

On Thursday afternoon, step into All Around ATL, where you’ll find activities and giveaways representing the Georgia Aquarium, Coca-Cola, the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, local sports teams and more. Later that night, the new Emory Student Center will be the perfect venue for HocoFest, featuring live student performances, custom t-shirt pressing, photo opps and the Student Alumni Board’s exhibit on Emory and student art “then vs. now.”

On Friday night, students can stop by the “Meet the Greeks” Swoop State Block Party on the First-year Quad for dinner, socializing and games before heading to the annual Homecoming Ball featuring Rico Nasty and EarthGang at 8 p.m. on McDonough Field.

Student-only events wrap up on Saturday night with comedian Joe Mande (“The Good Place,” “Parks and Rec”) performing at Glenn Memorial Auditorium at 7 p.m. 

“Homecoming is about celebrating what we are and what we do and hope,” says Giarracco, a sophomore majoring in chemistry and Spanish. “We hope you’ll come celebrate with us.”

Find some family-friendly fun 

As in years past, Homecoming Week also coincides with Family Weekend, which means many activities on Friday, Saturday and Suncay are planned with parents and siblings in mind. 

Sign up to attend an information session about different aspects of life at Emory or join a tour of the newly renovated Convocation Hall, the award-winning WaterHub, the Emory Wheel offices or the new Emory Student Center.

Other family friendly events on Saturday, Oct. 26, include the Homecoming and Family Weekend 5K Run through Lullwater Park at 8:30 a.m.; Morning Muffins and Juice (plus kids story time) at the Emory Barnes and  Noble at 9:30 a.m.; Family Weekend Brunch from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Dobbs Common Table; and Emory Street Eats with food trucks around Asbury Circle from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The Michael C. Carlos Museum also is hosting “Coco on the Quad” Saturday night, featuring an outdoor screening of the Disney Pixar animated film “Coco.” Stop by the museum beginning at 6 p.m. to enjoy exhibits before the movie starts at 8 p.m. Plus, purchase fresh handmade empanadas, cold Jarrito drinks and Mexican hot chocolate from Mami’s Empanadas prior to movie time.

Visit the Parent and Family Programs website for more information about Family Weekend.

Hear from Emory’s president 

Alumni, families and students are invited to a town hall and discussion with Emory President Claire E. Sterk on Friday, Oct. 25, at 5:30 p.m. in the Emory Student Center, room 104.

Reconnect at reunions

No Homecoming is complete without alumni reunions, and this year is no exception. Tailgates, happy hours and other gatherings for alums of all ages are scheduled from Thursday, Oct. 24, through Sunday, Oct. 27. 

Here’s a sampling of what to expect; view the full schedule and register for events online. 

• Emory College and Goizueta undergraduate alumni: This year’s celebrations will honor the milestone classes of 1979, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2009 and 2014
• Golden Alumni Brunch (Thursday at 10 a.m.): Alumni who graduated 50 or more years ago are invited to a brunch featuring Gary Hauk, Emory University historian, who will share his perspective on the transformation of Emory’s campus over the last 50 years
• Graduate and Professional School Alumni Tailgate (Thursday at 6:30 p.m.): Alumni of Laney Graduate School, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, Rollins School of Public Health, Candler School of Theology, School of Law and Goizueta Business School can kick off Homecoming Weekend at New Realm Brewing Company
• A conversation with alumni of the Emory Wheel (Friday at 4 p.m.): In celebration of The Emory Wheel’s 100th anniversary, the Wheel will host a panel of alumni from prominent news outlets including the Washington Post, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Fox 5 Atlanta; moderated by Hank Klibanoff, professor of practice and Pulitzer Prize winner. Panelists will discuss today’s state of journalism and the ever-evolving media landscape
• Party on Patterson (Friday at 7 p.m.): All Goizueta alumni (plus families and friends) are invited to celebrate 100 years of excellence in business education at the Centennial Welcome Party on Patterson Green.
• Greek Life 150 Year Anniversary Coffee and Conversation (Saturday at 9:30 a.m.): Greek Life alumni, students and parents are invited to a celebration with opening remarks by President Claire E. Sterk and Enku Gelaye, vice president and dean of Campus Life
• Emory LGBT+ Alumni Blue Jean Brunch: All are welcome to attend. $20 per person in advance, $25 at the door. Current students and the Classes of 2018 and 2019 are free.
• CEBA/NPHC Homecoming BBQ (Saturday at 4:30 p.m.): All current students and alumni are invited to this annual CEBA/NPHC barbecue hosted by the Caucus of Emory Black Alumni (CEBA) and Emory’s National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)
• The Ultimate Greek Mixer: Celebrating 150 Years! (Saturday at 8 p.m.): Join Greek Life alumni and students from all councils and generations at the new Student Center Ballroom. Music provided by REM Tribute band, the “REMakes” 

Schedule time for sports and other special activities

Homecoming Weekend will include several opportunities to catch Emory sports, including two matches with the national champion Emory Eagles volleyball team: Friday at 5:30 p.m. versus Saint Mary’s College and Saturday at 11 a.m. versus Roanoke College.

In addition, the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will take on Birmingham Southern College Saturday at 1 p.m. The women are on a quest to win their eleventh consecutive NCAA Division III National Championship.

You can get a musical view of campus by joining the Emory Choirs for “Edges of Time,” an exploration of time within music. The concert will be Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Schwartz Center. Tickets are free, but need to be reserved.

On Sunday, Emory and the congregation of Glenn Memorial Church will celebrate Emory-Glenn Sunday together. Current members of the Emory Concert Choir and the Candler Singers will join the Glenn Memorial Chancel Choir for a combined group of more than 120 singers. All are welcome to the 11 a.m. service and the community lunch afterward.

A worship service also will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday in Cannon Chapel, with the message delivered by Ali Lutz 99C 04T. A free community lunch will be served in Brooks Commons following the service. 

Additional activities are planned throughout the weekend. Find a full schedule and details online.