More than 4,000 alumni will be returning to Hanover this weekend as Dartmouth prepares to celebrate its 102nd Dartmouth Night and Homecoming weekend with a multitude of activities and reunions.
"Homecoming is the greatest weekend of the year besides Commencement," Associate Director for Alumni Relations David Orr said. "Recent alumni are the most enthusiastic about Homecoming."
"Homecoming is a great time. All of my friends will be up here in Hanover," said Scott Andersen Armstrong '97.
Alumni festivities will kick off tonight at 7:30 with Dartmouth Night. About 1,000 alumni are expected to participate in the Torchlight Parade, where both alumni and freshmen will march up Main Street to the center of the Green.
Following College President James Freedman's annual Homecoming address, alumni will watch as the freshman circle the Bonfire.
"All of my friends from the New England region will be here for Homecoming. We will all join the freshmen in the Bonfire," Eliana Marcenaro '97 said.
Later this evening, the Blunt Alumni Center will host an Open House with cider and doughnuts for all visiting alumni. The evening will conclude with a starwatching session at 9:30 p.m. in the Shattuck Observatory.
Returning alumni will have a chance to reunite will their classes tomorrow at the Leverone Field House, where the Hanover Inn will be catering brunch. Different classes will hold meetings on campus and throughout the Upper Valley region.
The main event will be the Dartmouth-Harvard football game in Memorial Field. Thousands of alumni have already been mailed tickets for the game, Orr said.
The Classes of 1977 through 1987 will have a Family Mini-Reunion at the Top of the Hop following the football game.The Classes of 1988 through 1997 will gather at noon for activities in the Young Alumni Tent in front of the Alumni Gym.
Alumni are very enthusiastic about Homecoming weekend. It will be an opportunity for them to reunite with members of their classes and members of their fraternities and sororities.
"From what I know," said Tom Adair '99 from Psi Upsilon, "we are having a reception for alumni before the Homecoming football game. In addition to the formal reception, alumni will be at the house visiting with the brothers throughout the weekend."
"Sigma Phi Epsilon sent invitations and a flyer early this term to all its members," said Gary C. Jan '98. "We will have an alumni board meeting Saturday morning. After the game, we will host a reception in the chapterhouse for alumni and family, and a party later that night."
