By: Mike Strong
It is about that time of year when it pays to be an on-campus resident, simply due to all of the great events that Kennesaw State University will be putting on. Two of those events are coming up just next month and they look to be better than anything KSU has done before.
First up is the annual homecoming celebration. Homecoming events span the weekend of Thursday Oct. 9 through Sunday Oct. 12. This year’s homecoming has garnered a lot of attention from KSU students, and for a good reason. It is full of fun events that are kicked off by Founders Day that Thursday. Events accompanying Founders Day include a panel discussion known as “The Big Thirst,” which will explore the world’s methods of water consumption and discuss ways to conserve “one of the world’s most critical resources.” Later that night, student life will hold a lip sync concert at 7 p.m. in the ARC Amphitheatre. This is a returning event from last year’s homecoming and it will surely be just as exciting as the last.
Friday, Oct. 10 will include the Homecoming Parade at 4 p.m. The parade, which will run throughout campus, is a great way to see all of the great organizations at KSU and marvel at the effort they put into making visually stunning floats. Following the parade will be a pep rally at 5 p.m. on the campus green. It will be a fantastic way to get pumped up for the KSU vs. Stetson volleyball match at 7 p.m. in the Convocation Center.
Saturday, October 11 holds the king of all Homecoming events, though, and that is the Wiz Khalfa featuring Ty Dolla $igns concert. Tickets are on sale now for the show, which will be held in the Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Students are hotly anticipating this show, so be sure to get there when the gates open at 7 p.m. Garrett Wagner, a junior Business Management major has been anticipating the concert since it was announced. “I’m looking forward to seeing Wiz because it’s gonna be crazy,” Wagner said. Senior PR major Mallory Kalajian loves the vibe that events like this concert bring to KSU. “It’s really exciting to watch our campus get jazzed about all of the upcoming events and concerts,” Kalajian said. “Music can definitely bring people together.”
One final event will be on Sunday, October 12. The commons holds brunch every Sunday, but during homecoming weekend, the brunch will be held for the Parent & Family Association.
Later next month, due to its incredible success last year, the KSU Sports and Entertainment Park will be holding another Owl-O-Ween Hot Air Balloon Festival. This year, the event will be held for two consecutive nights, Saturday, Oct. 25 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, October 26 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. The park was jam packed last year, so the extended dates will likely free up more space to see all of the hot attractions on display.
There will be numerous proceedings to explore, including a “costume showdown”, a “merchant marketplace” where all kinds of exotic goods can be found, and an “Artist Alley.” But the real reason to come out to Owl-O-Ween is to look on in awe at the abundant hot air balloons and even get a chance to take a quick ride in one. For many this might even be there first and only opportunity to take a ride in one of the rarest forms of transportation in the world. Wagner is excited at the prospect of getting to ride in a hot air balloon. “I thought you only watched different balloons fly around,” Wagner said. “Now that I know you can ride in one, I want to go. I’ve never ridden in one before. It seems awesome.” For those who want to experience the heat of the balloons without riding in one themselves, both nights will include a balloon glow in which multiple balloons are lit up while on the ground. Looking on from beneath, a marvelous canopy of balloons is created overhead and the powerful heat of the balloons will surely feel great on a cold late October night.
These events are doing a superb job of building spirit among students at KSU. “These events show the power the KSU has,” junior Exercise Science major Brandon Sardine said. “As a University that is still considered on the rise and young, we continue to pull big names for our homecoming and host one of a kind events such as Owl-O-Ween. We have great impact on the communities in the area and continue to grow our college culture. These things make it a bragging point to be a KSU Owl.”
Tickets for both the Homecoming concert and Owl-O-Ween are on sale now at http://www.wherekennesawplays.com/wiz-khalifa-feat-ty-dolla-ign and http://owl-o-ween.com/ respectively.