Coming off Indiana football’s win over Oregon last Saturday, the Hoosiers are gearing up for Homecoming weekend. Beyond the Saturday afternoon game against Michigan State, there are plenty of activities to celebrate all weekend long.
Friday, Oct. 17:
Homecoming weekend begins with the parade, including floats from organizations across IU following the theme, “There’s no place like Homecoming.” The parade will start at 5:15 p.m. and go from 17th Street and Woodlawn Avenue to 7th Street. A pep rally will follow from 7:30 to 11 p.m. in Dunn Meadow.
The pep rally and Homecoming festival will include appearances from Hoosier the Bison, cheerleaders, and the Marching Hundred. Hoosiers can celebrate with activities including a pumpkin patch, a mechanical bull ride and a hot air balloon. .
For visitors in town looking for a sampling of the Bloomington food scene, Food Truck Friday provides the perfect opportunity to snack and socialize. Truck options will include Bloomington classics like Pili’s Party Taco, The Chocolate Moose, and Doner Kebab. The event is from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Switchyard Park.
Music fans can attend a concert by Andy West, associate professor of music, at Ford- Crawford Hall. West is renowned in the music world for his guitar and songwriting contributions in the bands The Fontaines and Cornwall, Cook and West.
Friday night sporting events include a men’s soccer game vs. Hanover College at 7 p.m. at Bill Armstrong Stadium and a men’s basketball exhibition against Marian University at 7:30 p.m. inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Saturday, Oct. 18:
Saturday morning kicks off with the IU Alumni Association hosted Homecoming Huddle tailgate. Hoosiers young and old can gather at the Virgil T. DeVault Alumni Center at noon to celebrate all things IU with live music, food and giveaways.
Finally, the Homecoming football game against Michigan State kicks off at 3:30 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. Fans hoping to beat the lines can enter the stadium as early as 2 p.m. For other entertainment, B-town Boulevard on the South Lawn of the stadium from 12:30-3:30 p.m. The Boulevard will include food trucks, live music, a kid-zone and games. The Marching Hundred pregame show will begin at 3 p.m. inside Memorial Stadium.
Besides sporting events, the Wylie Museum will be offering a historical craft workshop. Here, they will be teaching Victorian-era art including hair wreaths and a related take-home activity. Hair wreaths were typically used to commemorate the death of loved ones, but the activity will focus on creating keepsakes for the purpose of remembrance.
Sunday, Oct. 19:
Closing out the weekend, the FAR Center for Contemporary Arts is hosting the Bloomington Blues and Boogie Woogie Piano Festival. Performers include Silvan Zingg, C.J. Chenier, Henri Herbert and more. Artists will be playing assorted boogie-woogie and blues music from 5:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
For lovers of Bluegrass, Trailhead Pizzeria is hosting a Sunday Bluegrass Jam. Bands will be playing music from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
IU Jacobs School of Music students will perform choral music in the style of “compline.” Compline describes a style of singing used by monks to signal bedtime. The music will be performed with light organ accompaniment from 9-9:30 p.m. in Alumni Hall inside the Indiana Memorial Union. It is designed to invite quiet contemplation among audience members.
