Every year, EMU collaborates with multiple organizations in Harrisonburg to create an unforgettable event called “Royals go Downtown.” From first-year residents to senior commuters, peers come together pridefully wearing signature blue shirts and optimistic empty stomachs to enjoy the sights and culture that Downtown brings to Harrisonburg. The event is an opportunity for those who aren’t familiar with the city to explore and experience the uniqueness of a small industrial college town surrounded by farmland and rural counties.
The event started at 5:15 pm on Thursday, September 25th. Students were loaded onto buses in two rounds and taken to Magpie Diner, where students were given chocolate chip cookies. After a speech from Interim President Dr. Shannon Dycus, students were divided into two groups. A member of EMU’s Student Government Association led the way for each group, beginning their journey together down the streets of Harrisonburg. As they began to walk, the assistance of officers helped make crossing the busy roads less scary for those anxious about cars. In fact, even the drivers of Harrisonburg seemed patient, with little to no honking or frustrated glares from the citizens in their cars.
Music played in the background with chatter all around and samplers from restaurants as students traversed the city streets. Local restaurants and franchises such as Billy Jack’s, Magpie, and Taj of India greeted students with warm welcomes and coupons for their dishes. Ice cream, kebabs, pickles on sticks, chai lattes, and home-brewed coffee brought bursts of flavors and enrichment to the tastebuds of passerby students walking the streets.
“It’s so good!” one student said after sampling dumplings before making their way to the courthouse, a commentary verbatim through the wave of students behind them. Of course, even with the delicious food, the walk itself was a little confusing. Trying to fit dozens of students into and out of the small doorways of restaurants led to moments of frustration and an overwhelming atmosphere before moving forward with the walk. Even so, students pushed forward, excited to try more food and ready to greet the new restaurants they’ve never visited before.
After a little confusion from the volunteers, the night kicked off after everyone reached Turner Pavilion at the end of the walk. Waiting for students at the end was giant slices of Benny’s pizza, drinks, and even Kline’s Ice Cream. At this point, peers had two hours to enjoy themselves in conversation, music, food, and complimentary merchandise from multiple organizations.
EMU was joined by Mayor Deanna Reed and the Clerk of Rockingham Court, Chaz Haywood, to dance and celebrate with sports teams and Herm, the EMU mascot. At first, not many students seemed enthusiastic about the dance floor in Turner Pavilion. However, after an inspiring speech, the DJ persuaded students to join the fun with classic dance music like “Cupid Shuffle” and “Wobble.”
What started as an awkward and empty space quickly became a lively atmosphere in which students and faculty joined each other in song and dance. Even after the well-known dance routines ended, students were still on the floor moving to the beat with peers they might not usually find themselves with in their everyday classes.
From start to finish the event had its ups and downs, but overall the students enjoyed the experience brought to them by the supporters and collaborators of EMU. In fact, it seemed that many who went to the annual event were returnees who jumped at the opportunity to experience it again. At the end of the day, students went home with full stomachs, a variety of coupons, and memories leaving them wanting more. After the fun day, students are certain they’ll return next year for another venture Downtown.
