Cornelliana Fans, Fireworks, and Fun: Homecoming 2024 in Photos Stories You May Like ‘Aardvarking’ and More: Fascinating Facts about the Marching Band Bravo to the Big Red Athletics Hall of Fame, Class of 2024! We Asked: ‘What Makes Cornell Feel Like Home?’ You Answered! Cornellians flocked to the Hill for the annual Big Red celebration—made even more festive by a big win (and a tiny horse) By Beth Saulnier It may not have been the most delightful weather in Homecoming history—but it was an amazing day for Big Red spirit, with throngs of happy Cornellians and a decisive win for the home team. In late September, alumni and students had a ball during Homecoming weekend—from fireworks over Schoellkopf Crescent to a fun-filled festival in the nearby parking lot. Bulldogs vs. the Big Red. Despite the precipitation occasionally dampening both players and fans, Big Red football notched a crowd-pleasing victory, beating Yale—the reigning Ivy champs—by a whopping 47-23. The weekend’s major events kicked off on Friday night, when fans packed the Crescent for the popular fireworks and laser light show, complete with a DJ and a preshow trivia quiz by Big Red history expert (and Cornellians contributing editor) Corey Ryan Earle ’07. Multiple-choice trivia before the fireworks. Among the toughies: “What objects are held by the two bears over the entrance to Willard Straight Hall?” (Answer: a book and a football.) Saturday’s overcast skies couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the many alums and students firing up BBQ grills and digging into tailgate feasts—as well as enjoying the many pleasures of the traditional Fan Festival. They included free food (apple crisp, donuts, salt potatoes, and more); photo ops with Vet College ambassador and East Hill celebrity Minnie the miniature horse; classic tunes by the Big Red Marching Band (including some alumni Bandies); performances by student dancers and musicians; and games like cornhole and giant Jenga. And of course, there were booths where various Big Red organizations offered free merch. Saturday’s overcast skies couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the alums and students firing up BBQ grills and digging into tailgate feasts. Once again—we humbly report—Cornellians boasted some of the event’s hottest swag: red umbrellas emblazoned with our masthead and the definition of the hyperlocal weather phenomenon known as “Ithacation.” (On that gray, drizzly Saturday, recipients wondering about the origin of the term needed only to look up.) Small horse, big heart: Minnie with two of her many admirers. To earn an umbrella—and we gave away 700 of them!—alums and students participated in our annual Homecoming exercise, in which we collect answers to a prompt and post them in our booth on brightly colored sticky notes. This year’s, titled “Home Sweet Home,” asked the question: “What’s your fondest Cornell memory?” Stay tuned for the results, which will be published shortly—and in the meantime, enjoy this photographic tour of the weekend's festivities! Welcome Back: Scenes from Homecoming ’24 An eye-popping display fired up fans. She yells Cornell! Capturing the moment. The Marching Band sets the mood. Dancing to the DJ's tunes. They've got the beat: Yamatai, Cornell's taiko drumming group. Stories You May Like ‘Aardvarking’ and More: Fascinating Facts about the Marching Band Bravo to the Big Red Athletics Hall of Fame, Class of 2024! Tailgates bring alumni together (and feed them!). Touchdown revs up the crowd. Balloon hats! Winning moves on the gridiron. Celebrating in Schoellkopf. Lasers light up the field. The crowd goes wild! Hat, scarf, and spirit. Give us a C! Give us a U! Trombone tradition on display. Taking a shot at the free-throw booth. Making lifelong memories. Top: Two Homecoming headliners: Touchdown and the Big Red cheerleading squad. (All photos in this story by Cornell University photographers Lindsay France, Noël Heaney, Sreang Hok, Jason Koski, and Ryan Young.) Published September 30, 2024 Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Cornelliana Brains! Collection Is a (Slightly Spooky) Artifact of an Earlier Era Alumni Reunion ’23 in Pictures: Clearing Skies on a Dazzling Weekend Students ‘Dump and Run’ Turns Student Castoffs into Treasure