OUAA Family Festival joins Come Home to OU festivities

The annual OUAA Family Festival has moved from its usual October time slot to join the winter Come Home to OU homecoming festivities scheduled for Feb. 6 and 7, 2009. Featuring special attractions and entertainment that will appeal to all ages, this winter weekend will be a hit for the entire family.

Homecoming weekend kicks off on Friday, Feb. 6 at 11:30 a.m. with a pep rally in the Oakland Center Food Court, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Center for Student Activities’ recent renovations at 1 p.m. in the lower level of the Oakland Center.

Past and current Oakland community members, athletes and alumni are invited to celebrate the 25+ year careers of OU’s swimming and diving coach Pete Hovland, men’s basketball coach Greg Kampe and men’s soccer coach Gary Parsons. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Oakland University Endowed Athletic Scholarship Fund. For ticket information contact Gina DeMartis at (248) 370-2669 or email demartis@oakland.edu.  

OUAA Family Festival fun begins at 11:30 a.m. inside the Campus Recreation Center in the three-court gyms on the lower level. Test your “rock star” skills on the interactive Rock Band and Guitar Hero video games, defy gravity in the inflatable Bounce-House, race about the obstacle course or challenge your family to nine holes of putt-putt golf. Admission is free.

The excitement continues at a tailgate party from 1 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. in the O’Dowd Parking Lot. Celebrate the Golden Grizzlies spirit in anticipation of the homecoming basketball games. Held directly across from the O’rena in heated tents, this free event will offer attendees a variety of delicious tailgate foods.

Then settle in for the women’s and men’s basketball games beginning at 3:30 p.m. in the O’rena. OU takes on conference opponent Centenary College. Both games will feature a salute to former basketball players.

For more information on the OUAA Family Festival, call the OUAA event hotline at (248) 364-6140. For complete Come Home to OU details, visit www.oakland.edu/comehome.