Homecoming weekend is a time for students, family, alumni and faculty to come together to mix and mingle, and share in the ever-changing experience of the new Mercyhurst University.

This year will feature several showcase events and activities throughout the weekend. All are welcome to join Mercyhurst Student Government and Student Activities Council in these festivities. It all begins Thursday.

“Spirit Week(end)” starts then with class color day and a class wars barbeque.

Friday’s events include a softball alumni game, which begins at 5 p.m.

The “Friday Night Lights” pep rally will also occur with a ribbon cutting ceremony for the renovated locker rooms. Athletic Director Joe Kimball and football head coach Marty Schaetzle will be speaking.

At 9 p.m. there will be the student versus alumni lacrosse game on Tullio Field. If you are not interested in the lacrosse game on Friday from 9-11 p.m., there will be family bingo in the Recreation Center.

Senior cheerleader Alyssa Ross said, “Homecoming is my favorite time of year, I love seeing all the school spirit, and I am so grateful to be cheering on the football team for another year.”

On Saturday, MSG and SAC have organized the Hurst Fest in Garvey Park. Like past years, the Hurst Fest includes several fun activities. This year the events include a petting zoo, caricatures, inflatable obstacle courses, a photo booth, free stadium cups, MU window decals, Mighty Fine Donuts, caramel apples, cider and the Culinary Cab.

Saturday’s main event is the football game, which kicks off with tailgating at 11:30 a.m. Then the football game starts at 1 p.m. versus Slippery Rock. At half time, the crowning of Homecoming King and Queen will occur. Continuing with Saturday’s festivities the “Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day Celebration” will start at 4:30 p.m.

When asked how this Homecoming would be different than past years, in honor of the “Year of the University,” MSG Events coordinator Jenna Dascanio said, “We eliminated the Hurst Fest shirt and decided to go with “THE Shirt” to keep our spirit initiative going throughout the campus community. Keeping that in mind, MSG’s events/PR and spirit committees, have planned some extra spirit events for the week leading up to Hurst Fest to pump up the student body for this year’s Homecoming.”

This year there were a record-breaking number of nominations for Homecoming King and Queen. The nominees for Homecoming King include Adam Borgman, Jeremy Dickey, Adam Ferrari, Ben McCormick and Jacob Jaskiewicz. The nominees for Homecoming Queen include Adrianne LaGruth, Caitlin Handerhan, Kaleigh Hubert, Kelsey Trosch and Rhona Boyle.

From the looks of it, this Homecoming will be one for the books. Show your school spirit, and join in any of these activities. This is a time for the entire Mercyhurst community to come together and celebrate all the reasons we love Mercyhurst.