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CONTRIBUTED BY ETSU ATHLETICS
JOHNSON CITY – After the COVID-19 pandemic forced organizers to push the 2020-21 academic year Homecoming to spring 2021, East Tennessee State University students and alumni alike are thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate Homecoming in the fall semester once again.

“I think this Homecoming, coming back from a COVID spring Homecoming, is so exciting for everyone! Students are more eager to get involved and have a sense of normalcy since we have missed out on so many other opportunities,” said Sadie King, Student Government Association secretary of state. “I am so happy that everyone is going to get to come together and participate this fall, and I hope everyone has so much fun with all the events we have planned.”

Unlike the Homecoming event that took place last spring, this Homecoming will be graced with the traditional orange and yellow hues of Appalachian fall. Activities begin next week and will take place from Nov. 1-7.

Events kick off Monday, Nov. 1 with the “Marsh Regional Blood Drive,” in which Leadership and Civic Engagement, Volunteer ETSU, and Marsh Regional Blood Center will join forces to help save lives.

Participants can expect to find the Blood Drive on the Pride Walk from 2-6 p.m. Halfway through the blood drive, attendees may find the “Bucky’s Big Top Carnival” event, where various student organizations will have booths set up that include activities and games set up based on this year’s Homecoming theme, “Bucky’s Big Top Carnival.”

This event begins at 4:30 p.m. and will be located in the Quad. The conclusion to the first day’s Homecoming celebrations will be with “Bucky’s Big Top Pep Rally” at 6 p.m., on the Quad.

On Nov. 2, the second day of Homecoming activities, participants may join ETSU Campus Recreation for a Homecoming “Cornhole Tournament” from 11:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. at University Commons.

Then, starting at 7 p.m. in the D.P. Culp Cave, Buctainment will be hosting “Silent Disco.” There, partygoers will be requested to present their ETSU I.D. to rent out required Bluetooth headphones. In accordance with university policy, masks will be required.

Nov. 3 has an early start with “Homecoming Canned Food Creations,” which will be held outside of the William B. Greene Stadium from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

The “Marsh Regional Blood Drive” event will return a second time from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. but will be located in the D.P. Culp Center third floor Ballroom. As a part of the blood drive event, a photo booth will be set up nearby and will operate from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

The fourth day of Homecoming, Nov. 4, features a “Fashion Marketing & Merchandising Major & CMA Fashion Show” event, in which the Fashion Marketing and Merchandising program (FMM) and the Collegiate Merchandising Association (CMA) will jointly offer a fashion show for all in attendance to raise awareness of fashion sustainability.

The show will be held in the D.P. Culp Cave starting at 5:30 p.m. Afterwards, the ETSU community will have the opportunity to enjoy “Glow Night with Light Up Guy,” where attendees can expect to find a glow party featuring a live DJ performance and local campus icon Brendon Tiggs, better known on campus as Light Up Guy. The glow party will begin at 7:30 p.m. at University Commons.

Nov. 5 features the first day of “Bucky’s Big Top Carnival Ferris Wheel.” Starting at 2 p.m. on ETSU’s main campus in Parking Lot 21, students, faculty and staff alike will be invited to ride the 90-foot tall Ferris Wheel.

The ride will be operational until 10 p.m. Friday night, but will also be running Saturday. As an ETSU Homecoming tradition, “Homecoming Skit Night” will take place in the D.P. Culp Auditorium starting at 7 p.m.

There, various student groups will be showcasing their skills and performing skits based on this year’s Homecoming theme. In accordance with university policy, masks will be required.

The Saturday celebration of Homecoming week, Nov. 6, winds up with the celebration of the legacy of Dr. Sally S. Lee. The “Dedication of the Dr. Sally S. Lee Suite for the Student Government Association at ETSU” event will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the D.P. Culp Center Room 249.

There, alumni and current members of Fraternity and Sorority Organizations, Preview and Orientation Leaders Organization (POLO), and the Student Government Association (SGA) will host a dedication and naming of the SGA Suite, followed by a reception celebrating Lee in the D.P. Culp Center third floor Ballroom.

Then, starting at 10:30 a.m. at ETSU Parking Lot 21, Buctainment will present local band Fritz & Co. live for their Homecoming tailgate event “Tailgate Band: Fritz & Co.” Shortly afterward, beginning at 1 p.m. at William B. Greene Jr. Football Stadium, the ETSU community is strongly encouraged to support the ETSU Bucs Football team in their Homecoming game against Virginia Military Institute (VMI).

Finally, Saturday night will end with “Affion Crockett Homecoming Stand-Up Comedy Show.” Starting at 8 p.m. in the D.P. Culp Center Auditorium 101, attendees will be treated to a Homecoming comedy show sponsored by the Black Affairs Association and the ETSU SGA. Featuring headliner Affion Crockett and special guest Brandon Lewis, the event is free to all.

“Bucky’s Big Top Carnival” will conclude Sunday, Nov. 7 with the “ETSU Homecoming Gospel Concert.” The ETSU gospel choir invites all to join them in worship from 4-6 p.m. in D.P. Culp Center Auditorium 101.

For the complete Homecoming schedule, visit etsu.edu/homecoming/. For ETSU’s complete, updated COVID-19 guidelines, visit the “Bucs Are Back” website at etsu.edu/coronavirus.