ETSU organizations gear up for this year’s “Saddle Up, Bucs” themed homecoming. From Oct. 2-8, numerous on-campus homecoming events will range from live music to goat yoga. 

Carter Warden, director of Student Activities and Organizations, said he thinks students will find this year’s events exciting. Warden described the events as “ a fun variety of the things that we normally don’t have during homecoming.” 

The week will kick off Monday, Oct. 2, with a blood drive on the Pride Walk 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. At 6 p.m., a pep rally will be held at the Amphitheater followed by a Cowboy vs. Aliens Afterparty with live music from Saxsquatch, a saxophone player dressed as Bigfoot.  

On Tuesday, Campus Recreation will host a cornhole tournament in the Unviersity Commons, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., there will be square dancing with the Hogslop String Band under the Pridelawn Tent. The Hogslop String Band is familiar with ETSU. “They’ve been to campus a couple of times and students love them,” said Warden.  

Wednesday includes the annual event, Canned Food Creations, a competition between student organizations to build sculptures made from canned food to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank. “The canned food gets two types of judging. One is the creativity, and then the other part is just the pure weight. We’ve been able to give some years 20,000 pounds of canned items to Second Harvest, ” said Warden.

ETSU 2023 Homecoming Court candidates. (Contributed/ETSU).

On the same day there is a free petting zoo and goat yoga in the Upper Pride Lawn, 4-7 p.m. Sign-ups are available on the Campus Recreation website.  

The Farmer’s Market on Thursday will incorporate a fun twist. Warden shared the vendors will decorate with a western theme to commemorate the week. Later in the day, Zip-N-Smores will take place 5-7 p.m. at the challenge course, along with Skit Night in the D.P. Culp Auditorium beginning at 7 p.m. 

Buctainment and SGA will be showing Jordan Peele’s, “Nope”, in the amphitheater Friday night at 7:30 p.m. The football game Saturday against Mercer kicks off at 3:30 p.m., with tailgating 8 a.m.-3 p.m. After the game, the Stroll Off and Comedy Show will be at 8 p.m. in the D.P. Culp Auditorium. The week concludes Sunday with a Gospel Choir Concert also in the D.P. Culp auditorium at 3:30 p.m. 

With such a diverse list of activities for homecoming, there is something for everyone. For more information, go to the ETSU Homecoming website or social media.  

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