Monday's first Homecoming Village brought 3,128 people to the Village and featured eight different attractions including a 25-foot high zip line.
Homecoming opening day chairman Jordan Habayeb said more than 200 people rode the zip line and throughout the night, lines formed for the featured attraction. Habayeb said the zip line will be back for Saturday's festivities for alumni, but he was uncertain whether it would be available to students again.
"We had a lot of really good feedback," Habayeb said. "A lot of people enjoyed it and had fun."
Seven months went into the planning of the event, Habayeb said. The committee met once a week in the months leading up to the big day to discuss the game plan and keep everyone who participated informed.
To keep overhead costs of the event low, the committee secured numerous package deals with the activities that were offered in the Village. No dollar amounts were available at the time of publication because the committee has not yet been billed, but Habayeb said very little, if any, money was earned at the event.
"We wanted to keep everything free for students," he said. "The only thing we charged anyone for was the zip line for non-students, but not many members of the community came out."
Students took advantage of the freebies, and the event ran out of popcorn and had to start turning people away from the cotton candy as supplies ran low toward the conclusion of the event. More than 400 bags of popcorn were handed out throughout the night. Habayeb said a total of 30 volunteers helped out with the event.
The event's success was felt by Village businesses as well. Many area eateries saw double the usual Monday business all in the three-hour duration of the event.
Jimmy John's offered free samples throughout the night and store manager Steve Arnold said 800 samples had been handed out by the time the event ended. The store saw 140 customers in three hours, which nearly doubled last Monday's total of 81. Sales were likewise doubled.
"Business was good," Arnold said. "It was a well done event, and as far as I know, everyone who came in here really enjoyed it."
Business was also good for Pita Pit. General Manager Tyler Hurst said he scheduled an extra set of hands for the night, and he and his crew spent a total of 17 hours preparing for the event.
"The timing was great," he said. "It was nice having it from 7 to 10 because it gave us time to prepare."
Hurst's store saw 200 customers throughout the night who saved an average of $2.50. Hurst said the line went all the way out to the street at times.
Jeannine Lee Lake, manager of Grandma Betty's Ice Cream, said her store more than doubled the average numbers for a Monday. The store dished out seven full tubs of ice cream to 50 patrons through the night.
"October started really slow for us, so we appreciate the extra business," Lake said. "We're thankful to be a part of the Village."
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