Homecoming festivities return to N.C. A&T

GREENSBORO,N.C. — Reconnecting with old classmates on the yard, tailgating before the big game and enjoying the parade are some of the best parts of homecoming week, but there’s one more ingredient that helps N.C. A&T host the “Greatest Homecoming on Earth.”

“It’s the spirit of Aggie pride,“ former N.C. A&T president of the National Alumni Association Gerald Williams explained. 

And to show off that school spirit, alumni like Sabrina Brooks make the campus bookstore their first stop. 

“To be able to show school spirit is so important. Coming from Philadelphia you have to always rep where you went,” Brooks said. 

Sixty thousand out-of-town visitors will make their way to the campus events over the week.

College leaders said the boost in visitors translates to a surge in sales each year, and the royalties go toward funding financial aid for the current generation of students.

But the bookstore is just one of many businesses that benefit from homecoming season. 

“North Carolina A&T has an annual economic impact on this state, mostly concentrated in Guilford County, of $2.4 billion. A lot of that comes from visitors and events that we hold that draw people into this community, homecoming by far the large is one of those events,” N.C. A&T Associate Vice Chancellor Todd Simmons said.

N.C. A&T Police Chief Robert Hassell said they partnered with local law enforcement to ensure safety and help direct traffic.

“We want everyone, our students or alumni and all visitors to feel safe. Our homecoming event is one of the largest and one of the best experiences anyone could ask, so with that comes a lot of traffic, not only vehicle traffic but pedestrian traffic. So all those coming to our homecoming event need to expect some possible delays with redirection of traffic,” Hassell said. 

Collectively more than 130,000 people attend the events every year, and the celebration creates a $33 million economic impact on the state.

The festivities continue Friday night with the annual step show.

Saturday will feature the homecoming parade, football game against South Carolina State and a concert starring GloRilla and A Boogie. The event ends Sunday with a gospel concert.