Funnel cake. Vendors. Live music. Alumni on campus. It can only mean one thing: Homecoming is approaching Guilford College. From Oct. 5 to 8, our campus will transform into a carnival, packed with students, faculty, alumni, and our Greensboro neighbors to celebrate athletics, art, and, most importantly, our community.

Kimberly Barnes, assistant director of event planning and communication, is in charge of managing all of the Homecoming events. She has been working with campus organizations to come up with a range of different activities that both alumni and students will be excited about.

“If you love the school that you go to, if you love the people here, or if you love what Guilford stands for, you’re definitely going to find something that you will enjoy at Homecoming,” said Barnes.

The Guilford community can look forward to engaging in activities such as powderpuff football, the street festival, acclaimed alumni speeches, and a live performance from the band The Good Lovelies.

Of course, Homecoming wouldn’t be Homecoming without the big football game against the Southern Virginia University Knights at 1:00 p.m. on Oct. 8. The team is fired up and hoping to see a lot of enthusiasm from fans on game day.

“I’m hoping we’ll have a good fan turnout,” said senior Joseph Parrish, part of the defensive line for the team. “They pump us up, which will help us get the big win.”

Another big event happening during Homecoming is “The Element.” On Oct. 6, at 7:00 p.m., there will be an open mic and talent extravaganza in the Community Center where students can take the stage and express themselves artistically through poetry, music, dance, or anything else.

“We’re opening up the stage for anyone who wants to participate,” said Africana Community Coordinator Jada Drew. “It’s a place for students to be introduced to vendors outside of Guilford. We have t-shirt companies, record labels, and student activist groups … It’s a huge networking opportunity for students.”

“The Element” will feature the popular local deejay B Man, as well as a royal purple, “Hollywood-style” carpet.

“It’s an event you don’t want to miss,” said Drew.

Another central event planned for Homecoming is the concert in Dana Auditorium on Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. There are 200 free tickets available for students on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Karrie Manson, associate director of alumni relations, thinks that The Good Lovelies, an upbeat folk band from Canada, will be appreciated and enjoyed by both alumni and current students.

“I’m really excited about the concert,” said Manson. “They will be a really fun live performance. We tried to pick a band that would attract people of all ages, so that alumni, faculty members, and students will all want to come.”

An important part of Homecoming is the presence of Guilford alumni back on campus. Steven Shapiro, associate professor of physics and academic advising director, is arranging this year’s Sheridan A. Simon Distinguished Alumni Lecture. Shapiro has been organizing reunions on behalf of the Physics Department since 2000.

“Alumni present what they’ve been doing since they graduated,” said Shapiro. “They give current students an idea of what possibilities are out there and what kinds of things they might consider doing as a student, given the hindsight the alumni are able to provide.”

This year’s lecture, “Faith in the Future: Changing Earth and Learning to Live with it,” will be given by Dail Rowe ’90 on Oct. 7 at 4:00 p.m. Rowe works for a company that makes some of the most accurate weather predictions anywhere. He will discuss global climate change models and how we can learn to live with this climate change that we’re experiencing.

Shapiro is enthusiastic in encouraging students to come listen to alumni speakers and converse with them during the alumni lunch.

“Alumni are incredible resources for students,” said Shapiro. “Any time a student can talk with an alumnus, they get a sense of what’s out there after Guilford. Creating and maintaining connections with alumni is difficult for students to know how to do, but coming to reunions is a great way to start.”

Although there are many activities that attract alumni, Manson ensures that there are plenty of Homecoming events planned for students, faculty, and community members as well.

“We’re making sure it’s not a ‘just-for-alumni’ weekend,” said Manson. “We have something for everyone this year. My biggest hope is that people will feel like there was something for them to do and a place for them to plug back into Guilford.”

To sign up for “The Element,” email [email protected]. For a complete schedule of all the Homecoming events, go to www.guilford.edu/homecoming