First Homecoming: Queen's

It’s that time of year again… the leaves are turning, we’ve all settled in to the first few weeks of school, students are hitting up Phase 2 and the annual OTD sale is upon us. You’ve probably guessed it: Queen’s HOCO! On Saturday October 19th, get ready for Aberdeen to light up with a sea of red, yellow and blue.

What is Homecoming? Traditional Take:

Homecoming is a wonderful time to spread some tricolour pride and share some cheers with alumni. Every year, thousands of Queen’s alumni return to their stomping grounds to celebrate milestone anniversaries, show their friends and family what residence they were in or reminisce with old classmates. Fans can also cheer on the Gaels Football Team at Richardson Stadium (West Campus) from 1:00pm-4:00pm, as they face off against the York Lions for the annual homecoming match!

As stated by Principal Daniel Woolf “Homecoming is a special event for the university as it brings together past and present students, friends, and supporters to celebrate Queen’s and what it means to be part of such a great community.”

Now, that we’ve given you the background - let’s get into some more fun stuff. If it’s your first year celebrating a Queen’s homecoming, we’re here to provide you with a taste of what you can expect!

Pancake Kegger? Yup, those are a thing.

For most students, hoco morning looks like a lot of pancakes, cracking open some cold ones and blasting music as we dye ourselves purple or put on our favourite Queen’s apparel (rugby shirts are known to be a classic!). On homecoming, you’ll notice that students who normally sleep through their 8:30’s will be awake as earliest at 7:00am, and already documenting on their snap stories.

How to WIN at Homecoming:

After a few tri-colour jello shots, spending some time on Aberdeen and running into friends in the student ghetto, your energy levels may start to decline. But, no worries! Having a classic ‘nap time’ in your day around 3:00pm is routine for most. Take some time to chill out, hydrate and get some food in your system. Also, always remember to take care of your friends and those around you!

With such an exciting time upon us, it can feel like a million things are happening at once. The pressure to have the ‘perfect Queen’s homecoming’ sets in. Whether it’s your first homecoming or your fourth, we want to remind you all to make it your own! The day is what you make of it and don’t forget to go with the flow and enjoy it.

See you on Aberdeen!