Florida A&M University’s Homecoming Week continued on Friday, Oct. 23 with Set Friday at the Will Packer Amphitheater, bringing students, alumni, families and visitors together for a day of music, vendors and community.
The event featured vendors offering a range of products, including drinks, Italian ice and clothing from small businesses.
Mielle Organics was also among the vendors present, adding to the variety of businesses participating in the festivities.
Attendees browsed the vendors’ booths, enjoyed refreshments and spent time connecting with others throughout the amphitheater.
For student Kaci Johnson, seeing the variety of fashion styles is the highlight of Set Friday.
“My favorite thing about Set would probably be the outfits. Everybody looks good.” Johnson said.
Alumni were also a noticeable part of the crowd, with many returning to campus alongside their families to celebrate Homecoming.
The gathering brought together generations of Rattlers, creating an opportunity for people to reconnect with the university, spend time with loved ones and participate in a tradition that has long been part of the FAMU experience.
Tenia Sutton, a Bethune-Cookman University student who traveled to FAMU for Homecoming, said attending another HBCU’s celebration highlighted the similarities and differences between the schools.
“It’s cool to see how different yet alike other HBCU homecomings are. I think that’s part of the beauty about going to an HBCU. There’s a sense of culture and family no matter where you go,” Sutton said.
The main stage also welcomed special guests Angie Nixon and David Jolly. Both encouraged those present to vote, bringing a message of civic engagement to the Homecoming celebration. Their appearances added another dimension to the event, connecting the festivities with the importance of community participation beyond campus.
Throughout the event, music played as attendees socialized and Divine Nine members strolled on the amphitheater floor. These moments contributed to the celebratory atmosphere as people moved between the vendors, gathered with friends and enjoyed the day’s activities.
For student Amaya Elizabeth, Homecoming’s excitement extends beyond Friday’s festivities to Saturday’s game day traditions.
“My favorite thing about Homecoming is probably Saturday, game day, Perry Street, going tailgating, eating some good food, seeing my friends, people I haven’t seen in a long time. You know, it’s just super fun. I’m loving the Saturday game day of Homecoming,” Elizabeth said.
With local businesses, familiar faces and visitors returning to campus, Set Friday provided another opportunity for the FAMU community to come together during Homecoming Week. The gathering reflected the connections between students, alumni and families that continue to make Homecoming a longstanding tradition at the university.