IU Bloomington Homecoming Celebrates The Return Of RAIN: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES 10/9-17

IU alumni, students, and friends are invited to nearly 20 activities taking place Oct. 9 to 17, including the 51st IU Homecoming parade; concerts ranging from jazz to country to the official Homecoming show, "Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles"; Hoosier Hysteria introducing the men's and women's basketball teams to fans; and finally a gridiron battle between the Hoosiers and the Fighting Illini.

Nearly 20 homecoming related events will take place in Bloomington beginning Friday, Oct. 9, including the 51st Homecoming Parade.

"This year's Homecoming week offers a wide variety of activities from traditional events like the annual parade, pep rally, and game-day tailgate party to wackier events like the Nearly Naked Mile, cornhole tournament and Yell Like Hell," said Mark Skirvin, senior director of outreach programs at the IU Alumni Association.

"New events this year include a football clinic for IU's international students, led by former IU Head Football Coach Bill Mallory; a special lecture by Homecoming grand marshals George Taliaferro and Anthony Thompson; and a homecoming game-day rally before the football game. We literally have something for everyone."

Big Man on Campus, Zeta Tau Alpha's annual philanthropic event celebrating breast cancer survivors, will kick off Homecoming events at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9. Male students from a variety of IU organizations will demonstrate their talents at the IU Auditorium, competing for the BMOC title. Cost to attend is $13.

"Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles" will perform the official Homecoming concert at 8 p.m. on both Thursday, Oct. 15 and Friday, Oct. 16 at the IU Auditorium. The group, which performed in Broadway's Beatlemania, recreates the Beatles sensation in a spectacular multimedia performance. Tickets cost $18 to $55 and can be purchased by calling the IU Box Office at 812-855-1103.

Starting at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 16, the 51st annual Homecoming parade will take to the streets featuring IU football greats George Taliaferro and Anthony Thompson as grand marshals. The parade will travel west down Third Street then north on Indiana Avenue to the Sample Gates.

After the parade, everyone is invited to stay at the Sample Gates for a pep rally to cheer on the Hoosiers to a Homecoming victory over the Fighting Illini of the University of Illinois. The pep rally will feature IU Head Football Coach Bill Lynch, football players, cheerleaders, the Marching Hundred and fireworks.

Keeping the Hoosier spirit going on game day, Saturday, Oct. 17, will be an IU Homecoming tailgate party and game-day pep rally, both held at Hoosier Village, adjacent to the DeVault Alumni Center. The tailgate runs from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and features live music, food and game-day apparel and merchandise. The cost to attend is $15 for adults, $6 for children (ages 12 and younger), and free for little Hoosiers (2 and younger). The game-day pep rally takes place at 5 p.m. on the Hoosier Village stage with the Marching Hundred Alumni Band, cheerleaders and IU personalities.

Homecoming culminates as the Hoosier football team takes on the Fighting Illini at 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. During pre-game and halftime ceremonies, the 2009 Homecoming king and queen will be introduced and trophies will be presented to the student groups that place first and second in various Homecoming competitions. The Marching Hundred alumni band and alumnae Red Steppers will perform, and 50-year I-Men will be honored. Tickets for the Homecoming football game may be purchased by calling 866-IUSPORTS.

Other Homecoming events:

Bloomington's own Mahluli/McCutcheon Jazz Quintet, led by jazz pianist Keith McCutcheon and saxophonist Nathanael Fareed Mahluli, will provide a free concert at the outdoor stage at Hoosier Village, adjacent to the DeVault Alumni Center, at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10.
On Monday, Oct. 12 at 10 p.m., the Nearly Naked Mile returns for the second year at Dunn Meadow. Students and alumni will shed (some of) their clothes and run across campus in this charity event. Participants must donate at least one article of clothing and must finish wearing at least as much as a bathing suit would cover. Donated clothing will be given to a local shelter.
On Tuesday, Oct. 13, on IU Spirit Day, prizes will be given all day to students caught wearing IU apparel on campus. From noon to 5 p.m., the Homecoming Blood Drive, held at the DeVault Alumni Center, will offer a chance to "Serve a pint. Save a life." The Homecoming drive is part of the IU Blood Donor Challenge that runs from Oct. 1 to Nov. 14. Also on Oct. 13 will be a concert by country star Chris Cagle on the Hoosier Village Stage from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased by calling 812-287-2896.

On Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., the homecoming cornhole tournament and bonfire will take place in Dunn Meadow.

On Thursday, Oct. 15, grand marshals George Taliaferro and Anthony Thompson will give a free homecoming lecture on their football and professional careers at IU in the Whittenberger Auditorium at 4 p.m.

For a complete schedule of Homecoming events, visit http://alumni.indiana.edu/events/homecoming/home2009.shtml.

Homecoming events are sponsored by the IU Alumni Association and the Student Alumni Association. One of the largest and most active student organizations at IU Bloomington, the SAA also sponsors student leadership initiatives and events such as Networking Nights, LeaderShape IU and business-etiquette programs. For more information, visit http://alumni.indiana.edu/saa/.

The IU Alumni Association is dedicated to serving the university and its diverse alumni, students, and friends. As one of the nation's largest alumni organizations, serving more than 528,000 graduates worldwide, the IUAA provides many programs and services to its members, nonmember alumni, and the university. For information, visit http://www.alumni.indiana.edu/ or call 1-800-824-3044.

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