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The Fire Still Burns
The Dartmouth Night bonfire is just one of Homecoming's highlights
Parents and grandparents: if you plan to make it to Dartmouth's October 17-19 Homecoming, here's a piece of advice you've probably had occasion to give to your kids and grandkids: wear layers.
Average temperatures in Hanover this time of year run from the upper fifties Fahrenheit during the day to the mid thirties at night, but when the bonfire is lit for the 120th year on Dartmouth Night (Friday at 8:30 p.m. on the Green), this little corner of New England will feel like Florida in midsummer—minus the waving palm trees, of course.
Be sure to arrive early for the bonfire to catch the parade of students and alumni through the streets of Hanover to the Green that starts at about 8 p.m. Once at the Green, get ready for a brief round of speeches: you'll hear remarks from Dartmouth's president Jim Wright, representatives of Alumni Relations and alumni organizations, and the current captains of the football and soccer teams.
Now, while the bonfire, the pre-bonfire parade, and the gridiron matchup against Holy Cross (Saturday at 12:30 p.m., Memorial Field) are highlights of the weekend, they aren't the only games in town, so to speak. For a complete schedule of all athletic events over the weekend—including soccer, volleyball, rugby, and field hockey—visit http://athletics.dartmouth.edu.
If you're in the mood for a bit of intellectual stimulation, don't miss the sixth annual Faculty Chalk Talk lecture series on Saturday morning. Among the offerings, Peter Saccio, professor emeritus of English, explores Hamlet's education and asks what value a college education has for a young man whose father dies and whose mother marries an uncle he detests. Ross Virginia, professor of environmental studies and director of the Institute for Arctic Studies, examines the effects of climate change on the North Pole. And government professor and Frank J. Reagan 1909 Chair in Policy Studies Linda Fowler discusses the political landscape of the 2008 election.
While in Hanover, be sure to find time to walk over to the Hood Museum at your leisure and enjoy one of their ongoing exhibits.
And, finally, if you're just in the mood to wander, check here for all sorts of options available to you this fall and winter, indoors and out.
But remember: wear layers.