Building on 2018’s successful reconfiguration of the traditional welcome walk to a block party, this year’s Community Welcome will be concurrent with Homecoming activities on Friday, October 25. This annual event helps foster neighborhood relationships and provides students information about respectful and safe off-campus living.

This year’s event will feature the theme of #HomeToYou, encouraging Ducks to celebrate all that’s wonderful about finding a home at University of Oregon, and the ways we bring the feeling of home with us wherever we go.

Festivities will kick off at noon, with a DJ spinning live from the main stage at 13th and Alder adjacent to the Eugene campus. Student groups will perform throughout the day, and family-friendly activities and a beer garden will fill the streets until 8 p.m.

The main attraction is the Homecoming parade and pep rally, which will step off from the EMU green at 5 p.m., marching and rolling down 13th Avenue to the main stage area. The pep rally, led by the Green and Yellow Garter Bands and UO Cheer, will start around 5:30.

The block party also coincides with UO Board Summit, the grand opening of Tykeson Hall, Parent and Family Weekend, and the Class of 1969 50th Reunion. Ducks of all ages and from near and far will enjoy a lively street fair as we celebrate Homecoming.

The Community Welcome block party is co-sponsored by the University District Business Association and is open to community members as well as all UO students, faculty, and staff.

There is no cost to attend, and no registration is necessary.

Streets will close at 6:00 a.m. to accommodate the stage build-out and block party footprint. All are encouraged to use alternate modes of transportation to campus and allow additional travel time to accommodate traffic and bus stop changes.

If you would like to learn more, contact Larissa Ennis, assistant director of community relations, at lennis@uoregon.edu.