BOONE, N.C. — The High Country became a circus this past week as the Black and Gold gathered on Appalachian State University’s campus for Homecoming 2018. This year’s theme was “Cirque du Appalachian.”

The festivities kicked off with Monday’s fourth annual Nearly Naked Mile, designed to raise awareness about the homeless population in Boone by having participants donate a coat or other articles of clothing to the Hospitality House as a registration fee. This event was followed by the 12th annual Homecoming Blood Drive held Tuesday.

The drive was especially important this year, as, according to the American Red Cross, more than 170 blood drives in the southeast United States were canceled due to Hurricane Florence. The Appalachian and Community Together (ACT) office reports that the 2018 Homecoming Blood Drive yielded a total of 1,120 units of blood from 1,222 registered donors.

The main attraction — the Appalachian Mountaineers football game against the South Alabama Jaguars — ended with a 52–7 victory for the Mountaineers on Saturday in Kidd Brewer Stadium.

Other homecoming attractions included homecoming awards and celebrations, the Top of the Rock homecoming selection, a homecoming carnival, a lip-sync competition and the homecoming parade.

Additionally, APPtoberfest and the Homecoming Street Party, which took place along Howard Street in downtown Boone, featured live music performed by band Weekend Excursion, as well as a pep rally and an Alumni Beer Garden. Following APPtoberfest, homecoming attendees gathered at Duck Pond Field for a bonfire and fireworks show.

A ribbon-cutting and unveiling ceremony for the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Plots and Garden on Appalachian’s campus was held Saturday morning. The NPHC Plots and Garden serve as a formal gathering space for the historically black Greek-letter organizations that make up the NPHC, often collectively called “The Divine Nine.” Seven of the nine NPHC organizations have chapters on Appalachian’s campus.

Photos by Marie Freeman and Chase Reynolds.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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