Homecoming Queensu

One of the best parts of studying at a University (other than the vast amount of research facilities, the famous proffessors and the variety of possibilities that specific university offers) is the celebrated days. In different countries, this means different things. In Turkey, university students and adminstrators considere MayFair or SpringFest is the biggest event of the year. Each big university, organizes 3-4 day events in the month of May to celebrate the coming of the spring. Well, actually, it is mainly a celebration and a break for the students before the final exams. I remember the days of MayFest in Bilkent, 3 days of concerts/parties and laying on the grass enjoying the spring sun. The profs used to know the class turnout would be quite low in those days, so it was normal for the students not to attend the courses (even though it would mean being penalized for not attending), and delay their assignments for these specific dates (so mostly considerate profs would not have had the deadlines on ar around these dates). It was great joy.

In Canada, and in specifically in Queen's University, the biggest event of the year is the Homecoming - the second weekend of October every year. Don't let the name fool you, it is for both the alumni and the present students of the university. It is three days of celebrations and revival of university spirit. Three days of blue, yellow and red (the colors of Queen's University- Tricolour) all around the streets, on the t-shirts, on the jackets. Streets full of new and old alumni and lots of drunk students. In addition to the official schedule announced by the university (that covers variety of team games played against other universities' teams, university tours, brunches, tree planting activities and the Street Festival with a main act), currently enrolled students also organize house parties where beer in the keg is the main drink. If you are an undergraduate these house parties are the places to be in these days. If you are doing a PhD like I do, the saturday night Street Festival is the most enjoyable part of the Homecoming. This year, the main act was "Walk off the Earth" (https://www.walkofftheearth.com/). Their music was awosome and it was great to be outdoors listening to a live performance. I loved every bit of their performance, it was also the first time I have seen four musicians playing the same guitar. The closer to the stage, the better it is :)
This year, the Street festival was called reUnion, as the name implies, it is a reunion party at Union Street :) If you want to have a better idea of the Homecoming, I would also recommend you to go to the Homecoming Football game, where seats at Richardson Stadium are arranged according to the graduation year and tickets are sold at minumum 40$. Even if you just go to the Street festival, it would be a well spent time to enjoy the Homecoming.

The information on the festival:
https://myams.org/reunion/
http://www.queensu.ca/alumni/homecoming/register
http://www.queensu.ca/alumni/homecoming/homecoming-events