Laurier Brantford expects to see an upscale homecoming event this weekend compared to previous years.

This Saturday, October 24 at 12 p.m. kick starts Laurier Brantford’s homecoming with a tailgate party in the Civic Centre parking lot and an alumni family event in the Civic Centre Auditorium. Between 2 and 2:45 p.m. a community pregame skate offers the opportunity for alumni to join the students and members of the community in getting on the ice before the puck drops for the varsity homecoming game at 4 p.m. in the Brantford and District Civic Centre. At 7:30 p.m. an alumni pub social will be held at Piston Broke Pub, tickets include one free refreshment.

“We’re trying to bring back some of our older alumni from the campus that have been more settled in their careers and starting their families, so [we] just want to bring them back and celebrate Golden Hawks forever,” said Penny Friesen, Alumni Relations and Development Officer.

Friesen has been involved with Laurier Brantford’s homecoming since the very first one in 2009. Friesen said each year brings growth in pride, passion and the amount of people that attend.

Organizing members have been working closely with Friesen to ensure all safety measures are taken, and the students will be acting in a responsible manner.

One of the homecoming organizers, Matthew Wright said tickets “are flying like hot-cakes so far.” Wright said the tailgate party will be featuring 4KORNERS, the official DJ of the Toronto Raptors who has collaborated with artists such as Drake, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, and Usher in the past.

Wright said this year brings an upscale tent so they are able to host more people compared to last year’s tight attendance. The tailgate party will also have a large food truck in substitution of last year’s small food tables.

Along with 4KORNERS, The Candidates and DJ Cashmere will be playing as well, stationed in a VIP area making it feel more like a concert. “It will be inclusive and very diverse, you can sit there and hang out and talk to your friends and sit down and have a beer, or you can get up and you can go dance. It will be a concert and club and a bar all mixed into one,” said Wright.

Dean of students, Adam Lawrence acknowledged the drinking culture that comes with homecoming and said, “we want people to be responsible and mindful, not to say don’t do this don’t do that.”