KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will “Rocky Top the Rebels” during this year’s Homecoming festivities set for today through Nov. 13. From the traditional Friday afternoon parade to the Saturday pregame Party in the Park, people of all ages can celebrate UT traditions.
Homecoming’s anchor event, the Volunteers’ football game against the Ole Miss Rebels, begins at noon Saturday. A limited number of tickets are still available to those registering for Homecoming events requiring advanced registration. After registering online for those events, attendees will receive a confirmation e-mail with instructions on how to purchase football tickets.
At 4 p.m. Friday, Grand Marshal and UT System President-elect Joe DiPietro will lead the campus parade from the Rock, at the corner of Volunteer Boulevard and Pat Head Summitt Street, east on Volunteer toward Neyland Stadium. DiPietro will be sworn in on Jan. 1, 2011.
All week student organizations will engage in relays and challenges that highlight UT spirit. Fraternities, sororities and student associations will earn points for finishing in the top three of each contest as they vie for the Madge Harrison Trophy, which will be presented to the winning group during halftime of Saturday’s football game. For more on student events, visit http://homecoming.utk.edu/images/HC_events11x17.pdf.
Saturday’s Party in the Park begins at 9 a.m. and will bring Vol fans together for tailgating in Circle Park. Members of the pep band and cheerleading squad will be on hand as fans enjoy music, door prizes, face painting, games for the kids and more. Attendees can even take part in helping eat the world’s largest MoonPie, to be cut at 10:45 a.m.
Also included in the festivities is the university’s first official ring ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 9. Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek and deans from each college will present undergraduate students who have achieved at least 60 credit hours and graduate students who have achieved at least 20 credit hours with their official rings. Rings feature images of the Power T, Ayres Hall, the Torchbearer statue and the UT Knoxville seal and checkerboard. The first 500 rings ordered will feature a special engraved number signifying that they are the very first official UT rings. For more information, contact the Office of Alumni Affairs at 865-974-3011.
Additional events include:
Thursday, Nov. 11
- UT National Forensic Academy Demonstration for alumni — 6-8 p.m. Requires advance registration.
Friday, Nov. 12
- Alumni Night @ the University Bookstore — 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m., University Center. Use the code word “Alumni” to receive a 20 percent discount on all Volunteer Shoppe regularly priced merchandise. Discount valid only on Friday, Nov. 12.
- Daily Beacon Open House and Buffet — 1-4 p.m., Daily Beacon office, 5 Communications Building.
- UT National Forensic Academy Demonstration for alumni — 3-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Requires advance registration.
- Homecoming Parade — 4 p.m., beginning at the Rock and traveling east on Volunteer Boulevard.
- College of Social Work Annual Homecoming Gala — 6 p.m., Rothchild Catering and Conference Center. Requires advance registration.
- Homecoming Concert 2010 Big Boi featuring Vonnegut — 8 p.m., Knoxville Civic Auditorium. Tickets are available at all Tickets Unlimited locations or by calling 865-656-4444.
Saturday, Nov. 13
- College of Engineering Annual Alumni Homecoming Barbecue — 9 a.m., courtyard of Ferris and Perkins halls. $12 per adult; $8 per child. Requires advanced registration.
- College of Education, Health and Human Sciences Tailgate and BBQ — 9 a.m., Claxton Courtyard (corner of Andy Holt & Volunteer). $12 per adult; $8 per child. Requires advanced registration.
- College of Law Barbecue — 9 a.m., College of Law front patio. $15 per person. Requires advance registration.
- College of Communication & Information Open House — 9-11 a.m., Communications Building lobby. Tour renovated areas of the school and meet with faculty.
- Party in the Park — 9:30-11:30 a.m., Circle Park. $12 per adult; $8 per child. Requires advance registration.
- Homecoming Football Game — noon, Neyland Stadium. UT vs. Ole Miss. Crowning of Miss Homecoming and trophy presentation at halftime.
- Baker Center Open House — 9 a.m., Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy.
- 21st anniversary Pre-Game Showcase — 10 a.m., University Center Ballroom. “Nature’s Legos: The Building Blocks of the Universe,” featuring Soren Sorensen, head of the department of physics and astronomy.
- Daily Beacon Open House and Buffet — 1-4 p.m., Daily Beacon office, 5 Communications Building.
- 11th Annual Black Cultural Center Festival — noon, Black Cultural Center.
- Office of Student Orientation and Leadership Development Student Orientation Assistant/Orientation Leader Reunion — 6 p.m. or following the game, Calhoun’s on the River. $30 per adult; $15 per teen ages 13-18; $10 per child ages 6-12; free for children 5 and under. Requires advance registration.
- 11th Annual Southeastern Stompfest — 8 p.m., Knoxville Civic Auditorium. Sponsored by the Black Cultural Programming Committee. Tickets are available at all Tickets Unlimited locations or by calling 865-656-4444.
For more information about Homecoming events, including those that require advance registration, visit the Office of Alumni Affairs’ Homecoming website.
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C O N T A C T :
Abbey Taylor (865-974-9409, ataylo30@utk.edu)