The weather is finally cooling off, the leaves are falling and the Halloween decorations are once again on our front doors. It’s fall and students are feeling a change in the air as the summer fades into fall. For many, this is a time of change: getting into the rhythm of classes, facing new challenges and making new friends. At Elizabethtown College, Homecoming Weekend reminds us that some things never change and once a Blue Jay, always a Blue Jay.

Oct. 19 is the kickoff for Homecoming events on campus with time-honored events like float building for the parade, a dessert social and the Mad Cow Improv Homecoming show. The question every year for students looking to get into the Ho-Co spirit: what do you go to? For a first-timer, the list of events can seem confusing and overwhelming.

So, to the excited (and maybe a little nervous) first-year, here are some of the events happening on campus this weekend and a little glimpse into why they are our favorites:

1. Mad Cow Improv Homecoming show. A fun and hilarious way to kick off the Homecoming festivities. Mad Cow Improv started on campus in the 1990s and has been delivering family-friendly comedy to Etown since then. The group delivers clever, gut-busting humor at their events and many students consider Mad Cow one of the best shows on campus. You can see them go mad Friday, Oct. 19 at 8 p.m. in Gibble Auditorium.

2. The parade. The Saturday of Etown Ho-Co gets going early every year with the club float parade. Clubs and student organizations on campus spend hours building a vessel that carries their club’s mission down College Avenue. The parade is a great place to start if you’re looking for a club or group to join. Not only does it get the good feelings going, but the parade involves the entire campus and community; the neighborhood comes to see the floats, the College’s television station films the event and local news stations give Etown a spotlight for the day.

“The parade [is my favorite because] students, professors, families and all the neighborhood kids have a blast with it,” senior Ryan Thomas said.

“[My favorite is] the parade, because it’s really fun to see people dressed to match the theme of the year. It’s TV this year, so I’m excited to see my friends as characters from ‘Stranger Things.’ It’s just something you don’t see every day,” sophomore Emma Pile said.

You can join the fun Saturday, Oct. 20 at 11 a.m. Just park yourself on the sidewalk or in a tree on College Avenue outside of Wenger, Nicarry or Schlosser.

3. Club tabling in the Academic Quad. Like at a bazaar, the Etown school clubs and members descend upon the Academic Quad, located between Thompson Gym and the Masters Center, in order to show off their activities, food and apparel. It is the ultimate place to get passionate about a new hobby. Last year was marked by a fascinating display by the High Voltage Club and walking tacos offered by Noir. Each table offered something different to help fund their cause: bracelets from the music education department, t-shirts with “Hugh Manatee” representing Habitat for Humanity and homemade soap made by the Chemistry Club. Students and parents alike find this event fun and engaging.

“My family loves to see what the clubs have done during the semester and to shop around for apparel,” junior Becca Russell said.

Tabling starts around 12 p.m. as the club members descend from their chariots and get ready for the day. Festivities out in the Academic Quad last until 4 p.m., proceeding the beginning of the choral concerts.

4. Choral Concerts. The entire Etown music community has a chance to show their chops at this multi-organizational concert. Members of the community, women’s, men’s and concert choir bring what they’ve worked on for the past month and present it to the community in spectacular fashion. Hits from last year include music from the popular musical “West Side Story” performed by the community choir.

It goes to show how often music brings us together. In fact, classical tunes aren’t the only music bringing down the house on Saturday, though you should catch the concerts starting at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

5). M.V.P. Show: Fans of the Etown a capella scene rejoice! All three groups on campus – Melica, Vocalign and Phalanx – storm the stage in this large-scale musical event during Homecoming. Everyone and their mothers seem to come out for this concert and it’s easy to understand why; the a capella groups work hard and have a lot of fun throughout the year. Whether it’s campaign or their respective concerts throughout the year, a capella rocks on campus. You can catch the M.V.P. Show in Leffler Chapel at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20.

This list is only a taste of what Etown has to offer during Homecoming; there’s also alumni games all week, delicious food served all over campus and alumni reunions in the academic buildings for each department. No matter what you do, remember to get out there and try something new! You’ll be surprised what you like and you’ll meet new people you never would have met anywhere else. Being a Blue Jay becomes really special in moments like these.