The University Program Council hosted country-rock band Trotline for a concert at a first-time Homecoming event on Friday, Sept. 13. Trotline is a southern country-rock band, well-known across the Auburn area by all ages and made the event a one-of-a-kind experience.
Homecoming is one of the most celebrated traditions in Auburn, with events and activities hosted all week long to get everybody in the Homecoming spirit. The annual parade and pep rally are the big finale for the week and, this year, the concert was added to the lineup.
The event was from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and had a variety of snacks, drinks and activities like photo booths to commemorate the new tradition.
Students, alumni and families came out to enjoy the event and celebrate Homecoming.
“We came for the pep rally and parade and then found out about the concert and came to check it out,” said John Splaime, Auburn alumni.
The event was added as a way to bring the Auburn Family together and experience something new. The concert was performed on a stage on Samford Lawn surrounded by lights, light-up signs and families and students dancing and singing along in the rain.
“Being a freshman and new to Auburn, I look for any events going on on campus and try to get involved, and live music is always fun,” said Caralyn King, freshman in chemistry.
The event was originally going to be an off-campus event not associated with Homecoming, but UPC was offered the opportunity to add it to the pep rally tradition.
“We wanted to do Trotline because they are a big country artist in the area, and a lot of the students know them and the alumni expressed their interest, so Trotline was a great bridge between the alumni and the students attending the event today,” said Savannah Anderson, senior and UPC director of special events.
Homecoming is a time for alumni to come back to Auburn to celebrate the school and the memories they made, as well as allow current students to make new memories.
“It’s the nostalgia of Homecoming that seems to make it so loved. Being a freshman and making all of these new memories and then seeing the alumni come back to relive their memories makes it super nostalgic even though I haven’t experienced it yet,” King said.
By creating an event for all to enjoy, UPC strives to bring the community together and make Homecoming a big celebration for everybody to enjoy.
“This week is so much more work for everybody because we want to make it inclusive for the families, students and alumni that come and make it an event that’s so much fun for the Auburn Family,” Anderson said.
Having a bigger audience and community presence allows more people to enjoy the events and celebrate Auburn together.
“It’s really nice that Homecoming week becomes a lot more than just UPC for events. We have a lot more power in making events huge … and making it as exceptional as possible,” said Carter Stremmel, junior and UPC director of holidays and traditions.
The concert was enjoyed by many and ended this Friday with a fun yet relaxing atmosphere before kicking off the big game today.
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