MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University has activities lined up for the weekend to celebrate homecoming.
“It’s going to be a busy but incredibly fun week for those that make it to Morgantown,” said CEO of the WVU Alumni Association Kevin Berry on MetroNews Midday.
The university has activities going on throughout the week which includes spirit truck stops, Greek games, student scavenger hunts, and more. The weekend festivities will kick off with a parade at 6 p.m. Friday. Chancellor & Executive Dean for Health Sciences at WVU Dr. Clay Marsh will serve as the parade’s grand marshal.
Another homecoming highlight this year in Morgantown is the first “Ballin’ at Woodburn,’ which will directly follow the parade on Friday night. The event will bring a full-sized basketball court to Woodburn Circle and will feature members of the WVU men’s and women’s basketball teams. Ballin’ at Woodburn will also incorporate interactive fan competitions, a live DJ, and postgame autographs from the teams.
WVU’s homecoming football game is also special this year, as the Mountaineers will be dawning their all-black “Coal Rush” uniforms that honor coal miners across the state. It will also be a blackout theme for fans and alumni watching the Mountaineers take on the TCU Horned Frogs at 6 p.m. Saturday.
As always, alumni of the Pride of West Virginia Marching Band will play, and former Mountaineer mascots and cheerleaders will return to the sidelines. Homecoming royalty will also be recognized at halftime.
“It worked out that homecoming and coal rush are at the same time,” Berry said. “Our fans love the homecoming game. You’re going to see people dawned in black and there’s going to be a light show that’s associated with that.”
“We’re not only celebrating West Virginia University with homecoming, but with it being the coal rush game, we’re also celebrating the heritage of West Virginia,” he continued.
Before the game, there will be a free concert put on by the Davisson Brothers Band outside Milan Puskar Stadium. That concert will be from 3:45 – 5:30 at the Almost Heaven Village, which sits between the light blue and teal parking lots.
For a full catalog of events during the week, Berry encouraged students and alumni to visit homecoming.wvu.edu