University Park, Pa. -- Homecoming 2009 at Penn State -- with the theme "Remember the Lion Within" -- began Sunday (Oct. 11) with the first Homecoming 5K race on the University Park campus followed by a student dance competition and concert at Rec Hall. Celebrations continued Oct. 12 with the start of Homecoming Court elections and an afternoon student celebration in East Halls, and culminate when the Nittany Lions host the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. Kickoff for the Homecoming football game is at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time at Beaver Stadium.
Tuesday, Oct. 13, brought the return of the "Past to Present Celebration," the second annual event that examines the history and progress of Penn State Homecoming, held in the HUB-Robeson Center. (See photos from the initial Past to Present Celebration here.) Another new event which took place on. Wednesday evening, Oct. 14, was dubbed the Best of Penn State, a student-organization-sponsored carnival on the HUB lawn.
Friday, Oct. 16, sees Homecoming events kick into high gear, starting with the traditional afternoon student/alumni ice cream social at the Hintz Family Alumni Center, followed by the renowned Homecoming Parade, which steps off at 6 p.m. and travels through the University Park campus and downtown State College, Pa. As of 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, the parade was still scheduled to be held, despite record-breaking wintry weather conditions predicted through Saturday.
The 2009 parade's grand marshal is Valerie Plame Wilson, a 1985 alumna and former member of the CIA. A movie, titled "Fair Game" and based on her life, stars Naomi Watts and Sean Penn and is scheduled for release in 2010. The parade's honorary grand marshal is Rick Bryant, executive director of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, also known as the Arts Festival, held each year during the second week in July in downtown State College and on the University Park campus.
The parade will form in the parking lots on Porter Road and Curtin Road and will travel along Bigler Road, Pollock Road, Shortlidge Road, College Avenue and Burrowes Road, where it will disperse north of Pollock Road. The parade route will be closed to vehicle traffic from 5:30 p.m. to approximately 8:30 p.m., and vehicles along the route must be moved beforehand. Vehicles traveling along the route during the parade will be detoured from East College Avenue onto Porter Road to Park Avenue to North Atherton Street; local traffic traveling westbound on East College Avenue will be allowed to exit onto University Drive.
Immediately after the parade are the pep rally and Homecoming King and Queen Coronation, which because of inclement weather will be held inside this year at the HUB-Robeson Center's Alumni Hall, followed by the traditional guarding of the Lion Shrine.
At 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, the Homecoming committee starts its annual Alumni Tailgate Competition prior to the Homecoming football game's kickoff at 3:30 p.m. in Beaver Stadium, where the Nittany Lions host the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
View photo highlights from Homecoming 2008 here.
Homecoming 2009 event highlights include the following (information from http://homecoming.psu.edu):
Student/Alumni Ice Cream Social
Friday, Oct. 16
1:30-4:30 p.m.
Hintz Family Alumni Center
The Student/Alumni Ice Cream Social is a great event that brings together current Penn State students and alumni. The social gives students the opportunity to connect with alumni over our famous Creamery ice cream while enjoying entertainment provided by the Alumni Blue Band, the Nittany Lion and the Penn State cheerleaders.
Homecoming Parade
Friday, Oct. 16
University Park campus/downtown State College
6 p.m.
Celebrated as one of the largest of its kind, the Penn State Homecoming Parade is a thrilling event for students, alumni, family and friends. Local student bands, distinguished alumni, the Homecoming Court, organization performances, floats and student-athletes are just a few of the highlights in the annual Homecoming Parade.
Pep Rally and King & Queen Coronation
Friday, Oct. 16
Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center; *moved indoors becuase of inclement weather; this is a change in location as of 3 p.m. Oct. 15*
Immediately following the parade
The Pep Rally is an all-ages event which brings the whole Penn State community together. Come show off your Penn State pride right at the heart of Old State. There will be special appearances from all of your Penn State favorites: the cheerleaders, Blue Band and even the football team! Stay until the end, when we crown the 2009 Penn State Homecoming King and Queen!
Guard the Lion Shrine
Friday, Oct. 16
Lion Shrine; sponsored by the Lion Ambassadors
Immediately following the Pep Rally
Come "Guard the Lion Shrine" after the Homecoming Pep Rally! Guard the Lion Shrine began in 1966 when Sue Paterno and a friend doused the shrine in orange latex paint to stoke interest in that year's Homecoming football game against Syracuse. The paint washed off easily, but later Syracuse fans doused the shrine in oil-based paint. Be a part of the tradition: free food, prizes and much more!
Alumni Tailgate Competition
Saturday, Oct. 17
9 a.m.
Beaver Stadium lots
The Alumni Tailgate Competition showcases one of Penn State's greatest football traditions: tailgating. Interested competitors can log onto homecoming.psu.edu to register for the competition, which takes place Saturday, Oct. 17, before the football game against Minnesota. The competition will award tailgates that exemplify Penn State's spirit as well as outstanding food variety and decorations.
Homecoming football game vs. Minnesota
Saturday, Oct. 17
3:30 p.m. kickoff
Beaver Stadium
Come show your Penn State pride at the annual Homecoming Game as Penn State takes on Minnesota!
For more details, visit http://homecoming.psu.edu online.