Each year as the Dartmouth Night bonfire is reduced to embers and forlorn students give up on touching the fire, much of Dartmouth's student body makes its way to Webster Avenue, where the parties are just beginning. This year, Greek houses will host formal gatherings, dance parties and concerts, including Chi Gamma Epsilon fraternity's "duel dance party" and a performance by Wiz Khalifa at Kappa Kappa Kappa fraternity.
The celebrations will kick off Wednesday night with "Tackies," Kappa Delta Epsilon sorority's tri-annual party which requires guests to adorn themselves in their tackiest clothing and accessories.
On Thursday night, Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity will host Champagne, its tri-annual "champagne formal evening with jazz," according to SAE social chair Joey Dang '10.
The festivities will continue on Friday with parties at Chi Gam, Tri-Kap and Sigma Nu fraternity. Chi Gam is planning a "duel dance party" with four alumni DJs on two floors of the house, according to Ian Rorick '10, president of Chi Gam.
"We'll have two DJs upstairs playing classical hip-hop and two DJs in the basement playing more of a hip-hop, electronica style," Rorick said. "They each have their own unique style, which should keep things interesting all night."
Ruslan Tovbulatov '09, also known as DJ Rukus, and Dan Kagan '09, DJ HBBS, will play upstairs while Jan Gromadzki '10, DJ Swizz, and Greg Dona '10, DJ Whack-a-Tone, play in the basement.
"These guys are basically the four best [campus] DJs of the past few years, so the music should be pretty good," Rorick said.
Tri-Kap and Programming Board will cosponsor a concert by Wiz Khalifa, an up-and-coming Pittsburgh rapper.
"We usually do a dance party, so we thought we'd change it up with a dry concert and then an after party with a DJ," Cameron Sharman '11, Tri-Kap social chair, said.
Fraternities are also planning to use Homecoming weekend as a time to reconnect with their alumni networks.
"This is a different Homecoming for [Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity] because it's our centennial celebration, so we don't have any major events over the weekend for students besides our dance party on Thursday night, before the official weekend begins," Kyle Nicholas '11, Sig Ep's social chair, said.
Instead, Sig Ep is planning a reception and dinner for its alumni and their families at the Hood Museum of Art, Nicholas said. The evening will include a panel discussion on Sig Ep's development over the years.
"It'll be a departure from a typical Greek scene Homecoming, but a very Dartmouth type of experience," Nicholas added.
Many upperclassmen interviewed by The Dartmouth said they are looking forward to traditional parties like those they have enjoyed in years past.
"[Sigma Nu fraternity's] 80's party ... is the best party of the weekend," Brian Recht '10 said.
Other recurring events such as Chi Heorot fraternity's toga party and Theta Delta Chi fraternity's pig roast are favorites, according to multiple students interviewed by The Dartmouth.
Several fraternities are excited to open their doors to the student body after several weeks of probation, according to Nicholas.
"When you had all the houses on probation, SAE and Tri-Kap got to open up to the freshman class, but now that all the frats are off probation, campus can enjoy a larger social scene among different houses," Nicholas said.
Homecoming Greek events, however, often result in higher costs for fraternities, according to multiple social chairs.
"With all the decorations, the grand total will probably be about a thousand dollars," Dang said, of SAE's champaign event.
Formal events typically cost more than dance parties due to the cost of higher-quality alcohol and the decorations used, Nicholas said.
