Families of Penn State Berks students will experience life on campus, while alumni will reconnect when the college hosts its annual Family and Homecoming Weekend, from Friday, Sept. 25 to Sunday, Sept. 27. This year’s event has a 1960s theme. The program will include activities for the entire family, including social and athletic events that showcase the campus. Most events are open to all attendees, but preregistration is required for the Picnic Lunch and the Alumni Reunion Dinner.
The festivities begin on Friday with a float-building party from 1 to 9 p.m. in the Beaver Community Center parking lot in preparation for the next day’s Homecoming Parade. The night’s activities conclude with a bonfire at 10 p.m. on the Luerssen lawn.
On Saturday, the events begin at noon. Families may check-in and pick up information and souvenir gifts beginning at noon at the event check-in table on the Perkins lawn. Event schedules will be available along with tickets to purchase for THON bingo.
Students, employees, and their families are invited to attend a picnic at noon on Saturday in the tent on the Perkins Plaza lawn. Advanced registration is required by Sept. 18. Register online at http://berks.psu.edu/StudentLife/homecoming.htm.
Other activities at the Perkins Plaza include live music, inflatables, balloon animals, miniature golf, pluck-a-duck, petting zoo and more.
The Homecoming Parade will begin at noon before the men’s soccer game. Floats built by student and alumni organizations will be on display. Presentation of the Homecoming Court, where the 2015 student queen and king will be crowned, will take place at 1:45 p.m., during halftime of the men’s soccer game. Then the Penn State Berks women’s soccer team will host a home game at 3 p.m. at the soccer field behind the Beaver Community Center.
Alumni and their families are invited to the Alumni Reunion Dinner under the alumni tent on the Luerssen lawn at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Attendees are asked to purchase tickets to the reunion dinner prior to Sept. 10, by completing the online registration form at http://berks.psu.edu/StudentLife/homecoming.htm.
Rounding out the day’s events are THON Bingo at 3:15 p.m., tie-dyeing with the Blue and White Society at 4:30 p.m., and a showing of the Disney/PIXAR movie “Inside Out,” hosted by the Penn State Berks Alumni Society and Penn State Berks Blue & White Society at 7:30 p.m. under the tent on the Perkins lawn.
On Sunday, Zumba Lions will host a Tie-Dye Zumba THON. Attendees are urged to wear their favorite tie-dye t-shirt and get ready to sweat to the music of the ’60s. Tickets are $5 in advance or $10 on the day of the event for Penn State Berks employees and students; $15 in advance and $20 at the event for guests. E-mail Kayla Welch at kmw5478@psu.edu to purchase advance tickets.
For more information about Family and Homecoming Weekend, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 610-396-6052 or the Office of Campus Life at 610-396-6076. Register for all events online at http://berks.psu.edu/StudentLife/homecoming.htm.