Excited to kick off Auburn's football weekend, students filed into the Ralph Brown Draughon Library for its fifth annual tailgate Friday.
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., students were encouraged to visit the library for games, refreshments and prizes.
In attendance was Miss Auburn University Emilee Williams, a War Eagle and, of course, Aubie.
The event was open to Auburn students and faculty, as well as family members.
"We really want to get newer students who might have 'library anxiety' to come in and explore," said Marcia Boosinger, associate dean for public services.
Upon arrival, students were given a map of the library and a guide for where and when various tailgate activities would take place.
Students were encouraged to visit the places listed on the map and get a hole punched for each location visited.
The completed maps could then be turned in at the end of the tour for a drawing to win a football autographed by Gene Chizik.
While receiving free snacks and goodies, students had the option to participate in a third-floor scavenger hunt or to roll 'Library Corner' on the fourth floor.
The Auburn University Marching Band performed with the cheerleaders and Tiger Paws on the second floor for a brief entertainment break at 11:30 a.m.
"This is an opportunity for students to visit places in the library they normally would not," said Caitlyn Piper, senior in communication disorders and library employee.
Stationed at the Miller Writing Center, Piper explained how the center is available to both undergraduate and graduate students and how employees can help with writing assignments for any Auburn class.
"It's these types of things that new students might not know otherwise," Piper said. "So it's a fun way to get them to visit and see what we have to offer."
Tents were stationed throughout the library at places such as the circulation desk on the first floor, where students could learn how to reserve a group study room or request materials from other schools.
For the past five years, library employee Cory Latham has attended every tailgate party.
"If we can get students in and show them this isn't a scary place, we've done our jobs," Latham said. "Also, there's free food."
The tailgate party is an annual event scheduled on the Friday before Auburn's first football game, and the organizers see no end in sight for the tradition.
"We want to keep this tradition going, much like every other Auburn tradition," Boosinger said.
Attendance for last year's RBD tailgate party was 2,700 students, and the event is growing in popularity, Boosinger said.
The party ended with the presentation of one of Auburn's War Eagles by the Southeastern Raptor Center.
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