A Recap of Homecoming 2024

Liberty University hosted its annual Homecoming weekend festivities which brought many fans and alumni back to Liberty Sept. 13-14.

Over 11,000 people registered for Homecoming, according to Student Activities, making it the most attended Homecoming yet. Two of the festivities with a large turnout were the Homecoming Carnival and the Homecoming Parade.

“The purpose of Homecoming is to remind those who were a part of this family for four years that they can always come back,” Cort Comfort, director of Student Activities, said.

The carnival was held on the Academic Lawn Sept. 13 from 3:30-8 p.m. for students, faculty and alumni. For the first time ever, a Ferris wheel was set up on the Academic Lawn near the Freedom Tower.

“My favorite part of Homecoming is being able to be here with my family and do the fun family activities,” Andrea Losik, a 2023 alumna, said.

The carnival included a petting zoo with alpacas, donkeys, sheep and other farm animals. Local food trucks and vendors were set up along the edges of the lawn. At the center was a 360-photo booth with a tripod that spun around and took a video of the participants standing on the platform.

There were also three inflatables set up. Carnival games were set up under red and white striped tents.

Live music was performed by student bands on the steps of the Montview Student Union, with the main band being Strings and Heart.

“We came to Homecoming to see our friends who we haven’t seen in a while and to watch the football game,” Courtney Mays, a 2018 alumna, said.

The parade held on University Boulevard Sept. 14 was both nostalgic for alumni and exciting for their families. The spectacle began at Green Hall and spanned most of University Boulevard. Liberty’s 2024 Homecoming Parade served both as a time
of celebration and an opportunity for different groups to make themselves known.

The groups featured at the parade included Liberty’s Alumni Relations, Foster Fuels, The Journey FM and many more.

The highlight of the parade was Liberty’s marching band and color guard. Emma Heagney, a member of the color guard, was excited to be part of the Homecoming experience.

“I love performing for people, and it was just very rewarding to see everyone in the crowd smiling at us and cheering us on,” Heagney said.

Members of the crowd were also greeted by Sparky, Liberty’s cheerleaders and dance team. In addition, representatives of the School of Nursing and Liberty’s Synchronized Skating team were seen in the parade.

The School of Engineering was also featured in the parade as engineering students showcased rockets and other exciting projects.

Liberty’s co-founder Elmer Towns  and Miss Virginia Teen USA   participated  with  the     
Falwells and McCaws. President Dondi Costin was even seen throwing T-shirts into the excited crowd.

Throughout the event, many of the groups threw candy into the crowd of alumni and their families, current students and individuals participating in the nearby tailgating activities.

The energy of the crowd continued throughout the weekend as they geared up toward Liberty’s football game against University of Texas at El Paso’s Miners Saturday night.

Lunney and Twitchell are news reporters for the Liberty Champion.