Because this year's Homecoming falls on Columbus Day weekend, businesses and the College expect the attendance to be high.
Dirt Cowboy Cafe owner Thomas Guerra said his cafe will be fully staffed.
"It is tough work that is fastpaced all day," Guerra said. "After the onslaught of people that day, it takes until Wednesday or Thursday to recover."
After 20 years of working during Homecoming weekend, Guerra said that he has refined his employee's practices to handle the increased business, such as increasing the number of espresso machines and cash registers in use as well as having more staff members on the floor and having bakers begin preparing food earlier.
Hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows tends to be the weekend's best seller but if the weather is still warm, iced coffee also sells well. In recent years, the cafe's pastries have increased in popularity among Homecoming visitors.
Jennifer Packard, director of public relations for Blue Sky Restaurant Group, which runs Molly's Restaurant and Bar and Jesse's Restaurant, said increasing variety for clients is the company's goal. The chefs of both restaurants are adding new specials for the weekend.
One struggle that Hanover restaurants face during the weekend is estimating how many staff members will be needed to work the floor and avoiding being understaffed.
"Historically, Molly's and Jesse's have an influx of guests as you would expect," Packard said. "We try to find the best possible experience by giving one on one attention [to customers] from a member of the team."
In addition, the fall foliage adds ambiance that brings a great feeling to the town, she said.
Toby Fried, owner of Lou's Restaurant, said alumni look forward to returning to Lou's, a favorite of students since 1947. "Our waitresses that have been here since Lou's time love to recognize faces and hear stories," Fried said.
Lou's tries to keep old favorites like crullers.
While students are more concerned about eating healthy, alumni are eager to have the big portions that they remember.
As returning alumni bring their business and love of the College back to Hanover, they also bring their memories from their time at the College.
"We hear stories about people who met their wife at our restaurant, or the talk about what they wrote on the back of a placemat," Fried said. "We have to keep the traditions alive for them."
Booked a year in advance for Homecoming weekend, Six South Street Hotel also increases employees for the weekend.
"We increase staff for the weekend because we are sold out," general manager Jennifer Sargent said. "We prep the staff with additional training to be ready for the high volume. For Homecoming and other big weekends people are friendly and excited to be here, which makes it a pleasure."
