Homecoming and Hocktoberfest are quickly approaching on October 3 - 4, 2014. 

Together with our sponsors, we are planning a weekend packed full of fun, family-friendly events and entertainment. We hope that you will join us as we celebrate friends, family and all that is Hocking College.

Friday, October 3 

12 - 9 p.m.
Events kick off at noon on True North Plaza outside Light Hall, with a special welcome reception with Hocking College President Dr. Ron Erickson followed by campus tours and educational showcases from 1 to 4 p.m.  All alumni, retirees and current employees are invited to the reunion from 4 to 9 p.m. at True North Plaza, featuring music, food and a cash bar.

Saturday, October 4 
10 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Hocktoberfest is a FREE event filled with something for everyone. Some of the activities we will have again this year are live music, Stihl Timbersports, outdoor skill learning and demos, a fishing derby, Clint Bowyer & Don Schumacher racing teams, horse drawn wagon rides, local vendors, pumpkin decorating, COSI Science Kiosks, Columbus Zoo wildlife demonstrations and more! 

Visit hocktoberfest.org for more information. See the video from last year's event here. 

The Third Annual Hocking College Homecoming is set for Friday, October 3.  The entire campus community is looking forward to welcoming our alumni, retirees, and friends back to campus for a day of celebration.  A full line-up of activities has been planned and the agenda is as follows:

10 - 11:45 a.m. - Check In - True North Plaza, outside Light Hall

12 p.m. - Welcome reception with Dr. Ron Erickson, Hocking College President - True North Plaza

• Meet the president and other college administrators
• Light refreshments will be served
• Pick up your campus map
• Purchase your alumni T-shirt and other merchandise

1 - 4 p.m. - Enjoy Hocking College - campus-wide

• Department showcases and open houses
  • Visit your favorite departments to get a snapshot view of what the programs offer
  • Meet the faculty and department staff
  • Tour the labs and facilities to see what has changed (and stayed the same) since you were here!
• Guided campus tours
• Davey Tree Expert Company - climbing demo and activity (near Robbins Crossing)
• Kid's activities in the Student Center

4 - 9 p.m. - Reunion - True North Plaza, Amphitheater

• Reconnect with friends during this informal reception
• All alumni, retirees and current college faculty and staff are invited to attend
• Alumni and staff bands will perform on the outdoor amphitheater
• Light refreshments will be served
• Cash bar available

Homecoming registration is required. RSVP online at here or contact 740.753.7010 / alumni@hocking.edu

For more information, and ongoing updates, "Like" us on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HockingCollegeAlumniAssociation

The music lineup for the 2nd Annual Hocktoberfest has been set and it includes bands from all over the country. The list includes an eclectic blend of different types of music sure to please a wide range of audiences.

Headlining this year's fest is the incredible Shook Twins from the Northwest. If you haven't heard of Shook Twins yet, there is no doubt you will down the road. They don't often come to Ohio, so we are grateful for them swinging through.

Take a peak at Shook Twins and their music here.

Make sure you "Like" & "Follow" the event Facebook page to stay current with updates and participate in regular giveaways.

Several Hocking College programs and student clubs are participating in Hocktoberfest. We are excited to have so many programs represented at the event! Here are a few of the highlights that you don't want to miss: 

• Public Safety Services will have an interactive display of fire and emergency services vehicles where kids can step up into the vehicles to get an up close look or even try on a firefighter's suit. 
• The Equine and Farrier programs will offer horse-drawn wagon rides as well as horse shoeing and packing demos (in the barn).   
• The Hocking College Program Showcase Tent will feature a Health Fair by the schools of Allied Health and Nursing.  Several health-related displays and interactive booths will be available.
• Also in the Showcase Tent, the Horse Club will be selling pink ribbon horse shoes to support breast cancer awareness and the Student Veterans Association will be selling pavers, engraved with your special message, for the new Veteran's Memorial Garden that is being constructed in front of Light Hall.
• Early Childhood Education students will be helping with face painting and pumpkin decorating activities for kids.
• Fish Management and Aquaculture Sciences students will be conducting the Fishing Derby.
• The Epicurean Club will have a concession stand serving up delicious bowls of steaming chili in several varieties.
• The Accounting Club will be serving beverages at the Pepsi booth.
• Music Management students will be helping with the bands on the main stage.
• Art, Design and Marketing students will be selling their wares as well as offering glass blowing demos (in the Visual Arts Studio).

Be sure to attend Hocktoberfest and visit each of these areas to see these programs and clubs in action!

Supporting Shook Twins at this year's Hocktoberfest is the high energy, and always entertaining Horseshoes & Hand Grenades from Wisconsin. They will be bringing with them a bluegrass performance that we are very excited to share with you.

We are also fortunate to have Bombadil make the trip from North Carolina & grace our stage. This band is one that many people have a hard time classifying -- and for good reason. One way we can certainly describe them is a very talented, constantly creative, fun and a highly addictive band ... you find yourself humming their tunes throughout the day.

All the way from Austin, Texas is Taylor and the Wild Now. Taylor won the Durango Sole Performer contest last year and continues to show us why. Their new single "Wanderlust" was just released on July 14th.

Chris Good & The Sweet Insurrection will also be performing at Hocktoberfest this year. Chris is incredibly active in Ann Arbor, MI and has received some statewide recognition for encouraging everyone to support local businesses. We are excited to have Chris and the Sweet Insurrection join us for this community event, and bring their eclectic sound and local message to Athens County!

The Summoners from Athens will represent our local music scene. The Summoners are a local rock quartet that features Liz Pahl, Corbin Bradley Marsh, Matt Box and Bryan Gibson. All four of the band-mates bring something different to the group. "For lack of a better term, I'd call it 'American rock music,' Gibson said. "Not necessarily Americana, although there are some twangy elements to it. But it's basically catchy three-chord rock songs with harmonies and a driving beat". We can't wait!