Students, alumni and faculty look forward to having the full flock back in the nest during Elizabethtown College’s annual Homecoming festivities. This year was even more special because it’s the College’s 125th anniversary. 

The grand event, the Homecoming Parade, kicked off on Saturday morning at 11. Parade floats were built by different clubs and organizations at Etown, including the campus a capella groups, Best Buddies, the dance club E-Motion and more. The homecoming court rode in style in Corvettes that were lent to the school by members of the community. The students in the parade were led by the local fire department and people from the Mars Wrigley factory including a purple M&M.

Etown alumni Quintin George and Shaye Dipasquale, both of the class of 2019, were the parade announcers. They entertained the crowd with Etown-themed trivia questions before the front of the parade arrived on East College Avenue and introduced each group in the parade as they went by.

ECTV-40 streamed the parade live, and the entire event can be viewed on their YouTube channel. They were joined by communications alumni Kelly Moore and Olivia Holmes, who served as broadcast anchors.

Last year’s homecoming royalty passed their crowns to the new royalty, Madison “Rocky” Stewart and Aaron Oliver, both of the class of 2025.

Others on the court included seniors Olivia Bennett, Sam Langer, Kat Pasko and Emma Sager, juniors Laney Humble and Blake Stolarik, sophomores Ryder Paulus and James Witmer, and first-years Sahan Shinoj and Teagan Zumbano.

Clubs and organizations on campus as well as several businesses in the community set up tables in the Academic Quad in the early afternoon on Saturday. These groups sold merchandise and greeted alumni. Local businesses sold crafts as well as treats. Madie Cannon, the president of Alpha Lambda Delta, an honors society for first-year students, took the opportunity to host a brownie-baking event for club officers and members. ALD then sold the brownies at the Homecoming Fair.

“It was a fun bonding event that helped us raise some money for Alpha Lambda Delta.” Cannon said.

Etown President Betty Rider gave a speech at the end of the parade, welcoming the students, alumni and Elizabethtown community to the Homecoming festivities:

“I loved seeing all of you along the route. I loved seeing your kids, your grandkids, seeing the dogs, the pets that were out along the way, and I invite you to participate in everything that we have going on today throughout the evening: the musical events, the FEST, take a tour of the Bowers Center, any place that you haven’t experienced yet, I hope you take advantage of today. So, welcome to the official Homecoming 2024!”