By Basma Hegab
Fall 2023
In the heart of Stillwater, a vibrant and spirited tradition comes to life each fall on the Oklahoma State University campus. The annual Walkaround emphasizes the essence of Cowboy pride by presenting the university’s rich legacy, community spirit, and inventiveness. The Walkaround is presented by the OSU Alumni Association and planned by the student-driven Homecoming Executive, Steering, and Big committees. More than 70,000 alumni, friends, and family travel from all over the country to OSU to enjoy the festivities of OSU Homecoming, including the Walkaround. Streets begin to close, allowing people to walk, and remain closed until numbers get low enough to open them up again. Sororities, Fraternities, and residential life put in hundreds of pomping hours over the first two months of the school year to complete all the house decorations on time. The decorated houses are the main captivation during the Walkaround. People stand and walk for hours to get the chance to look at the beautifully decorated residences.
The Walkaround is one of OSU’s largest and oldest events, dating back to the 1920s. The first Homecoming took place as part of the Harvest Carnival in the fall of 1913; however, it wasn’t until seven years later that the OSU Alumni Association organized its first official Homecoming event (“One-of-a-kind Homecoming experience,” 2018). In 1920, the OSU Alumni Association, then known as the Former Students Association, established an annual “Home Coming Day” where they anticipated 10,000 people and 75 percent of alumni to attend (Bishop, 2015). However, a total of about 90 attended. Also, in the 1920s, the renowned tradition of house decorations began when sororities began to decorate their entryways (Bishop, 2015). Initially, the Walkaround intended to celebrate homecoming and highlight student organizations and Greek life through lavish house decorations. The Walkaround has expanded exponentially through the years and has become an event that the OSU and Stillwater community look forward to each year in October.
The Walkaround begins when the sun drops below the horizon, and a giant transformation unfolds. Greek houses and residential homes come alive with vibrant colors that shatter the darkness of the night. Parents, students, alumni, and other community members gather around the decorated houses in anticipation. Everyone’s face radiated by the dazzling sights unfolding in front of them. Each decorated house expresses itself as it tells a story, enabling everyone to delve into a world of creativity and spirited school pride. The Walkaround is a night of bright lights, a gallery of effort and hard work, and a monument to the Cowboy community’s spirit. The Walkaround binds everyone attending together through this beloved tradition. Although the Walkaround is primarily a student event, it involves far more people than we realize. University alums play an essential part in keeping the tradition alive by frequently returning to their alma mater to relive their memories of the Walkaround and celebrate the tradition they helped create. Local Businesses, too, have a significant role in the Walkaround event. The businesses benefit substantially from the inflow of Walkaround tourists. The community spirit infuses every area of Stillwater, creating a stronger connection between the university and the community.
The Walkaround’s impact stretches far beyond the homecoming celebration itself. It is an expressive depiction of the Oklahoma State University experience. Students come together to build something bigger than themselves and establish a strong sense of school pride and a sense of belonging. It cultivates a feeling of responsibility within the students and reminds them of the need to preserve these treasured traditions and give back to the community they belong. Many people remember and cherish the memories and connections they made during the Walkaround and long after they graduated from OSU. As a student of the Cowboy family and a member of this community for years, I can say that the Walkaround always puts a smile on my face and is an event I look forward to each year. It brought out my community spirit, and I met many new people who changed my life. The Walkaround is an unforgettable event that helps join the community and the university. There is magic in the air, and people are full of pride and spirit. Attending the Walkaround as a college student instead of a community member is very different. There are more feelings of satisfaction and fulfillment. You can feel the Cowboy spirit in the cool air.
The Walkaround is more than a homecoming event because it showcases the Cowboy spirit of unity, creativity, and passion. The Walkaround Night has made an unforgettable impression on the OSU and Stillwater community with its stunning house decorations and the dedication of volunteers from both communities. As people come together for this incredible night, they embrace their Cowboy spirit, ensuring it remains alive for future generations.
Works Cited
Bishop, Jordan. “Evolving Tradition: How Osu’s Homecoming Became ‘America’s Greatest.’” Ocolly.Com, 21 Oct. 2015, http://www.ocolly.com/news/evolving-tradition-how-osus-homecoming-became-americas-great est/article_71521b2a-7798-11e5-8317-1ff7ca14e3c9.html.
Hegab, Basma. “Walkaround attendees stare in awe at the vibrant house decorations celebrating 100 years of Frank Eaton’s legacy.” 27 Oct. 2023. Stillwater, Oklahoma.
“One-of-a-kind Homecoming experience.” Oklahoma State University, 3 Dec. 2018, https://go.okstate.edu/about-osu/traditions/osu-homecoming.html
archiveoklahoma.com 