Concert and Food Trucks Add to UMO Homecoming and Pickle Classic Weekend

MOUNT OLIVE - Homecoming and Pickle Classic Weekend is a great time for alumni, churches, parents, and community members to enjoy the University of Mount Olive campus. Scheduled for November 15 – 16, the theme for this year’s event, which is sponsored by Atlantic Casualty Insurance Company, is “Celebrating the Art and Soul of UMO,” which reflects the rich culture and community spirit that the event will showcase. Proudly sponsored by Atlantic Casualty Insurance Company, the weekend’s lineup of activities will include an afternoon of concerts featuring well-known artists from a variety of genres, food trucks, vendor booths, Kid’s Korner, the Annual Golf Tournament, the Trojan Trot 5 K Walk/Run, Alumni and Hall of Fame awards ceremonies, and of course, Pickle Classic basketball.

CONCERT, FOOD TRUCKS, KID ZONE, & VENDOR BOOTHS - Noon to 6:30 PM Saturday
New this year will be a Saturday afternoon concert from noon to 6:30 PM. The highlight of the concert will be the Walk with Jesus Tour with contemporary Christian artists Consumed by Fire, and Caleb and John taking the stage from 5 to 6:30 PM. For bluegrass fans, Luke Shamblin & Friends will perform from 3:45 to 4:30 PM.  Country music lovers will enjoy hearing from UMO alumnus and Carolina Country Music Artist of the Year Erik Hawks from 2:45 to 3:15 PM and local up-and-coming country talent Zack Lee from noon to 12:45 PM.  UMO’s Music Choirs, Carolina Sound, and the Free Spirit Alumni Choir will perform from 1:10 to 2:45 PM. One ticket will grant access to the full afternoon of musical acts.  Tickets can be purchased online at umo.edu/homecoming. Various food truck vendors will be at Kemp Commons so guests can purchase meals or snacks during the concert. A KID Zone will offer bounce houses and other fun activities. 

CERAMIC SHOW & SALE AND STUDENT ART SHOW -1 to 6 PM Saturday
As part of Homecoming Weekend, the University of Mount Olive will host its second annual Ceramics Show on November 16, in Laughinghouse Hall at 500 Herring Drive on the Mount Olive campus. The exhibition will feature the works of Mary Ann Barwick, Hannah Wright, Frank Grubbs, and Randy Wright. There will be a reception and artist demonstrations from 1 to 3 PM.  All displayed pottery will be available for purchase and pick-up from 1 to 6 PM.  The Teresa Pelt Grubbs Art Gallery will also be open on November 13 and 14 between 8 AM and 4 PM.  Guests may reserve their purchases for pick-up on the 16^th. 
The Fall Student Art Show will be on display during the same time in Laughinghouse Hall.

ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME – 3 PM Saturday
The Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony is set for 3 PM in Southern Bank Auditorium.  This year’s inductees are women’s volleyball player Priscilla Racey Bartley ’11; women’s soccer standout Gina Dos Santos ’10; baseball star Stephen Mintz ’90; men’s volleyball standout Angel Dache ’14; and the 2004-05 men’s basketball team.

ALUMNI AWARDS CEREMONY – 10:30 AM Saturday
The Alumni Awards Ceremony, including the Annual Memorial and Worship Service, is set to begin at 10:30 AM in Rodgers Chapel.  This year’s award recipients include Gregg Paul ’74, Paul Young ’18, Kermit Nixon ’83, Laura Raper Buddin ’81, Dr. Leslye Kornegay ’99, Jason Mendez ’01, Tilwanda Steinberg ’17, and former UMO Director of Agricultural Facilities Operations Tim Warren.

TROJAN TROT – 7 AM Saturday
For those early risers, the Trojan Trot, a 5K run and 1.5-mile walk, will begin with registration at 7 AM on Saturday and the race at 7:30 AM. The event starts in front of the Poole Administration building at 634 Henderson Street in Mount Olive. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for UMO students. The event is free for kids 10 and under.

PICKLE CLASSIC BASKETBALL – 5 & 7 PM Nightly
Pickle Classic, one of the longest-running college basketball tournaments in the nation, will be at its best on Friday and Saturday evenings, with the men’s games each night at 5 PM and 7 PM in Kornegay Arena.  The women’s teams will start the competition at noon on Saturday.  This year’s lineup of teams includes the University of Mount Olive Trojans, Georgia Southwestern, Barton College, and Morris College. Online Pickle Classic tickets are $18 in advance for the entire weekend or $12 per day.  Tickets at the door are $25 for both nights or $15 per day.

GOLF TOURNAMENT – 11 AM Friday
The Annual Alumni Golf Tournament is on Friday, November 15, at Southern Wayne Country Club. Registration and lunch begin at 11 AM, with a shotgun start at noon. The cost is $75 per player or $300 per team. Alumni and friends are invited.
 “Homecoming Weekend is always a great time to reconnect and to remember the people and the place that is uniquely UMO,” said UMO President H. Edward Croom.  “This year will be extra special as we open our campus to not only alumni, but to the larger community for a weekend of fun, food, and fellowship!”

FOR MORE INFORMATION/TICKETS
For more information regarding Homecoming Weekend, please contact Christal Howell at chowell@umo.edu or call 919-658-7704.  For information about Pickle Classic, contact Tina Loy in Athletics at cloy@umo.edu.  Visit www.umo.edu/homecoming for tickets and event times. 

The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University was founded by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists.  For more information, visit www.umo.edu.