Virginia Tech will celebrate Homecoming with a week of activities for students, alumni, and friends Oct. 29 through Nov. 3.

The student-led Homecoming Board partners with campus groups to carry out a week of Homecoming events and the university’s Alumni Association hosts events, including reunions, during the Homecoming Weekend.

The festivities begin Oct. 29 with the Campfire Kickoff for students with s’mores and food. The kick off runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Duck Pond amphitheater.

The Homecoming Board will host a new event Tuesday, Oct. 30, called Homecoming’s Got Talent at Squires Haymarket Theatre. Fourteen groups are competing to raise money for different organizations and causes.

For students on the board who help organize events, being part of a large effort across campus and elevating different causes is one of the most meaningful things about Homecoming.

“Knowing that I contributed to a campus-wide event is the most rewarding thing for me,” Homecoming Board President Rileigh Huntzinger said. “With our motto being Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), we want to have that worked into our Homecoming Board and every aspect of that. Each court member has to develop a platform and an event, and a cause is a huge part of the court and their main focus.”

During the week, students cast their ballots for Homecoming Court where candidates each have a service platform that educates and raises awareness about a specific cause. The winning Homecoming King and Queen get a cash prize to carry out their platform.

Voting will take place Monday, Oct. 29 at 12:01 a.m. to Friday, Nov. 2 at 11:45 p.m. Students can log on to GobblerConnect to vote online. The winners will be announced during halftime at the football game.

When alumni arrive on campus for the weekend, four reunions are planned, in addition to other alumni events.

The Class of 1968 will celebrate its 50th Reunion at Homecoming and be inducted into Virginia Tech's Old Guard Society of Golden Alumni.

The Highty-Tighty Alumni Reunion also takes place during Homecoming and the Highty-Tighty alumni will march in the Homecoming parade and perform at the football pregame show with current Highty-Tighties.

The Ex Lapide Alumni Society (LGBTQIA+) Reunion will kick off Friday. LGBTQIA+ alumni and allies are welcome at all reunion events. The reunion includes a planning meeting, an Out at Work networking event, and tailgate.

On Friday evening, the Spirit Rally will be held at the Holtzman Alumni Center Lawn at 8 p.m., which will include fireworks at about 8:45 p.m. Following the rally, young alumni and seniors are invited to the Young Alumni Terrace Party at the alumni center.

The festivities will continue Saturday with a pregame tailgate, HokieTalks lecture series, and the Homecoming parade. The tailgate will begin four hours prior to kickoff. Colleges and organizations from across campus are also hosting tents at the tailgate, they are:

Following the tailgate, the Hokies will face Boston College. Before the game there will be a pregame flyover by four Navy jets.

For more information, visit alumni.vt.edu/homecoming and vt.edu/homecoming.

Share this story