GRANVILLE - Special events for community kids of all ages will be offered again this year at Denison University's Homecoming celebrations on Saturday (Oct. 14).

At 11 a.m. Denison's "Doo-Dah" Parade will begin at Broadway and Main, proceeding along E. Broadway and N. Pearl Streets to the Mitchell Center. The zany promenade will feature festive music, golf cart floats and the Big Red Buzzard. Area residents are encouraged to come out and enjoy the antics of this Homecoming tradition.

A different kind of buzzard will emerge on campus on Saturday as chainsaw sculptor Kirby Stanforth from Loveland begins transforming a 10-foot high sugar maple tree stump into a "sculpture vulture" at 9 a.m. The process is expected to last through mid-afternoon. Spectators are invited and morning refreshments will be available. Mark Comisford, Denison's grounds and road supervisor, had the idea to turn the stump into a work of art instead of having it removed from campus grounds when storm damage necessitated the tree's removal.

A pumpkin-carving contest is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. under the tent in the parking lot of the Mitchell Athletics Center on campus. Children will draw the faces, and adult helpers will do the actual pumpkin carving. Prizes will be awarded in various age categories. The student members of the Denison Community Association sponsor the contest. Pumpkins will be available at no charge, but donations will be accepted. Proceeds will benefit the Licking County Humane Society. If you plan to have your child participate, please call the Denison Alumni Office at 740-587-6576 in advance so enough pumpkins will be on hand for everyone.

From noon until 1:30 p.m. at the same tent, students from Denison's Honors Program will host a kids' carnival, featuring face painting and games such as ring toss and pi?atas. There is no charge for participating.

At 2 p.m., the Alumni Affairs Office will host a free "Cooky Spooky Party" featuring children's entertainers Celeste and Craig in the Multi-Purpose Room on the second floor of the Mitchell Athletic Center. Lots of songs, fun and Halloween cookies are set for this event, which is expected to last about an hour.

Denison's traditional Homecomers' Picnic Lunch will be in the Mitchell Center from noon to 1:30 p.m. The generous picnic buffet, featuring fried chicken and barbecued beef, is open to all. Advance tickets (ordered by Oct. 9) cost $8 for adults and $4 for children. Tickets purchased at the door will be $9 for adults. To order tickets, call the Denison Alumni Office at 740-587-6576.

Earlier on Saturday, a 5K run/walk will leave at 8 a.m. from the Livingston Field House. Area runners are invited to participate in this invigorating event.

Varsity athletic events include: Volleyball vs. Case Western Reserve, 11 a.m.; Field Hockey vs. DePauw University, noon; Men's Soccer vs. Allegheny College, 1 p.m.; Women's Soccer vs. Ohio Wesleyan University, 7 p.m.; and Football vs. Ohio Wesleyan University, 1:30 p.m.

During halftime of the football game, five alumni will be inducted into Denison's Varsity D Association Hall of Fame for their achievements in varsity athletics. They are: Harrison T. Bubb '61, soccer; Theodore S. Haynie '72, lacrosse; Brian K. Gearinger '86, football; Cathleen Mendelson Daly '89, field hockey and lacrosse; and Elizabeth Cooper Krushena '90, swimming.

All of these events are free and open to the public. Please contact Kim Ritchey, Homecoming coordinator, at (740) 587-6576 for more information.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575