Ah, Baylor Homecoming. The best time of year to be at Baylor University, not only for alumni but for current students as well. It’s a time to share tales of years past, what’s happening on campus today, and hopes for years to come. There are so many amazing traditions that come with Homecoming, but here are the top 5 best homecoming traditions at Baylor.
- The Parade
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What can we say, it’s always bigger and better in Texas, folks! As one of the biggest Homecoming parades in the nation, the parade on Saturday morning before the game captures the attention of all campus and all of Waco. Running through Downtown Waco and ending on 5th Street in the heart of campus. Sororities and fraternities pair up and create elaborate floats, organization members wave to the crowds and distinguished guests and members of Baylor walk along the route, including our queen, President Linda Livingstone.
- Pigskin Revue
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I may be a little biased when I say that Pigskin Revue is one of my favorite traditions because I am performing in it this year, but it’s truly one of the greatest parts about Baylor Homecoming. During the spring semester, several of Baylor’s organizations work on a seven-minute Broadway-style show of singing, choreography, costumes and props to compete in Sing, an annual tradition that is very important to Baylor History. The top eight acts will perform again during Pigskin Revue, another important tradition of Baylor Homecoming. Alumni, family and friends will come from across the country to see their children and sorority and fraternity members perform their hearts out on stage. Tickets always sell out for this occasion, but students always manage to sneak in to watch.
- Mass Meeting
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Mass Meeting is one of the more solemn events of Homecoming at Baylor, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t spark such a spirit and love for our university. This event is in honor of ten students who died in a bus-train accident in 1927. It highlights the Baylor spirit that is lit within all of us, as we are all part of the Baylor family.
- Bonfire
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Again, everything is bigger in Texas, and the Baylor Homecoming Bonfire is no different. Everyone gathers around Fountain Mall, the heart of campus, to watch an enormous stack of wood palettes put together by the freshman class be burned with ignition from the Eternal Flame. In honor of the Immortal Ten, an Eternal Flame is lit and encased in a structure and placed in Fountain Mall and put on display the entire week of Homecoming.
- Football
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Saturdays are made for football, but when Homecoming comes around, it hits DIFFERENT. The level of Baylor spirit and sense of community is heightened. Every seat in McLane Stadium is filled. That Good Ol’ Baylor Line is loud and proud. The Baylor Bears cheer loud for the football team and all is good in the world.
Homecoming is such a bittersweet time for all ages. I love seeing alumni coming back to see the campus that they called home years ago. They see how much has changed and what will always be consistent. Buildings may be more modern, but the fact of the matter is that the spirit and love for Baylor and her mission will always be the same.